“Plan B isn’t exactly shabby,” Milo said. “Speaking of which…” He pointed out the window to a sign on the highway: WELLESLEY COLLEGE—4 MILES.
I shuddered with joy. I still didn’t know what my dream was, but I knew this was going to be the first of many steps toward finding it. Deciding to apply to the college of my choice, enlisting my major tentatively as art history, and taking out loans might not have been as practical as accepting a free ride and prelaw, but in a way, it felt like standing in a kitchen with a head full of ideas. More important, it was me.
One hundred percent me.
That night, as the five of us were sitting around the table inside the fancy Japanese restaurant Mom and Dad had taken us to for my eighteenth birthday, Milo looked up at Dad.
“Do you mind if Julia and I go for a little walk?” He dropped his eyes nervously. “I just…I want to tell her…”
Mom leaned forward, putting her hand on his wrist. “Go ahead,” she said softly. “We have plenty of time before the cake.”
She and Dad exchanged a look as Milo and I stood up, and Dad nodded slightly.
“Don’t be too long!” Zoe called out as we made our way to the door. “I’m not exactly on a first-name basis with these people, you know!” She looked over at Mom and Dad, held up a can of Dr Pepper, and grinned. “Just having a little fun, guys. Just having a little fun.”
It was dusk. Downtown Wellesley was abuzz with Saturday nightlife.
“So this will be home for a while,” Milo said. “This and your dorm room, of course. Which, by the way, I have to say I am glad we’re done with. I didn’t think we’d ever get your computer hooked up. I thought your Dad was gonna lose it when we had to start all over again—for the third time.”
I smiled. “He’s a big fixer-upper kind of guy. He gets frustrated if it doesn’t come together right away.” I paused. “He’s learning, though. And you two worked well together.”
Milo nodded. “Rachel seems nice.” He looked at me. “You like her, right?”
I shrugged. “So far.” My roommate had seemed nice. A little nerdy, like me. Quiet. A biology major. Awed by my shot glass collection. She had already asked where she could get a tiny bowl like the one Aiden had made for me.
“You’re gonna do great,” Milo said, slipping his hand into mine. I looked up at him briefly and smiled as the warmth of his fingers traveled up through me.
“You are too.”
After waiting until the last possible moment, Milo had finally decided to attend Boston University, which had not only offered him a scholarship but had one of the best English programs in the country. He was going to major in creative writing. It didn’t hurt that I would now be only twenty minutes away.
He shrugged. “I hope so.”
“You will. And you’ll come here? To visit me?”
Milo stopped walking and turned to face me. We were still on the sidewalk, facing Washington Street. I glanced at the couple walking toward us on my right, and then at the girl wearing a tight, bra-like top coming closer on our left. But Milo didn’t seem to see any of them. Instead, he cupped my face in his hands, holding it the way the sky holds the moon.
“Julia,” he whispered. He bent his face toward mine and kissed me so gently that my knees buckled. “Always.”
Everything around us fell away—the street with its throng of cars, people rushing by, even the storm clouds swirling overhead—as Milo lowered his face again and, holding the back of my head with his hand, pressed his lips against mine.
acknowledgments
Thank you—always—to my family: my husband Paul and my beautiful children, for being so supportive of the long hours I sometimes need and the meals I occasionally skimp on because of those hours. (Let’s hear it for pancakes!) I love you all so much.
My editor and publisher, the luminescent Melanie Cecka, took this project on despite the amount of work it still needed. For taking the leap of faith, as well as seeing me through to the end, I remain eternally grateful. Special thanks also to Caroline Abbey of Bloomsbury, for all her hard work and attention to this book, as well as the incredible arts and graphics team at Bloomsbury for devising such a beautiful cover. You’re the best!
For finding this book—and all of my books—a home away from home, I am forever indebted to my agent and true friend, Jessica Regel. You stand out far above the rest. I am so lucky to have you.