As usual, when I got home, I checked the mail, not expecting anything from her inside of it. This time—to my surprise, there was. It was dated for two weeks ago, and her curly handwriting was all over the back flap.

I took it inside the house with me and immediately ripped it open:

Dear Carter,

I’m so sorry that it’s taken me so long to write you an actual, personal letter back. Things have become quite hectic now—in both good and bad ways.

My roommate and I are on much better terms now (we’re actually really, really good friends) and I still have the highest marks in my class. I am definitely living my dream—definitely sooo happy that I came here to this school, and I can’t wait to cook you one of my gourmet breakfast dishes. (It’s BETTER THAN GAYLE’S! And if it isn’t, just tell me it is. LOL)

I’m not surprised to know that you’re still number one in your cohort. I’ll have to take you out to celebrate when I get home…

Speaking of which, I was going to surprise you but this letter will probably beat me there…I’m coming home for two whole weeks!!

See you soon.

Sincerely,

Arizona

What the fuck…

I shook the letter, flipped it to the back—reread it a few times, wondering if I’d missed a part. There was no mention of anything I’d sent her in my most recent letter. I was wondering if she’d read it and was simply evading the subject until she got home, or if she still hadn’t read how I felt about the summer we spent together, how I felt about her.

I pulled out my phone to call Josh and tell him that I’d probably be spending the full two weeks with Arizona whenever she got here, but I noticed I had a missed call from Ari’s mom.

Sighing, I called her back.

“Hey, Carter!” she answered on the first ring.

“Hello, Mrs. Turner.”

“Mrs. Turner?” She laughed. “Really? You haven’t called me that since you wrote me an ‘I’m sorry for hurting your daughter’s feelings’ letter. You know better than that…”

I smiled. “Okay…Second Mom.”

“Much better. I was calling to ask if you could do me a huge, huge favor.”

“Anything.”

“Ari’s getting back home in about three hours according to the flight information she sent me.”

She didn’t think to tell me when her flight landed?

“Are you there, Carter?” her mom asked.

“I’m here.”

“Well, I was going to ask if she could stay with you for just this weekend. I’m currently staying at a friend’s because two of our water pipes burst and you know I refuse to step foot in there until it’s all taken care of…If it’s a problem, just let me know. I can see if maybe her new friend Nicole—”

“It’s not a problem,” I said, still silently seething at Ari’s inability to tell me anything. “Should I pick her up from the airport, too?”

“Not at all! She’s using my reward points for a free rental. I’ll send her the text about the accommodation change, though. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you again.”

“I’m sure…”

“Okay, got to go! I need to finish cleaning my friend’s kitchen. Can you believe she didn’t know to clean underneath her cabinets? She’s been my best friend for all these years and I never had any idea about this. I wonder what else I don’t know…”

“I know the feeling…”

“Talk to you later, Carter.”

“Talk to you later.” I hung up and took a seat on the couch, shaking my head and trying to process everything.

Her vague letter. Her not sending me an email with her flight information.

Her not acting like my friend.

Shit…

Unable to hold back, I sent her a text,

You couldn’t at least send me an email with your flight information?

I got a response a few hours later:

Sorry. It just slipped my mind…I saw my mom’s text about staying at your place for the weekend…Are you at home now? Just landed. Pretty tired.

I’m here.

Okay. See you soon. On my way.

I took a deep breath and decided to clean up to clear my mind. I walked into the kitchen and put all the dishes away. In case she wanted to talk before going to sleep, I tossed a few pillows and blankets onto the couch, and by the time I’d made the bed in my room, there was a familiar light knock at my door.

I need you to listen to me for five minutes, Ari…Five minutes.

I silently repeated the words as I walked over and opened the door.

The second I laid eyes on her, I lost my train of thought.

She was fucking stunning. Dressed in simple jeans and a white T-shirt (one of my small, old T-shirts…), she’d cut her hair to shoulder length and added blond highlights.

“Hi…” She managed, slowly looking me up and down. Her hazel eyes slowly met mine and she forced a smile.

“Hi…”

We stood staring at each other for several seconds—neither of us attempting to shatter the silence. I leaned forward to take her bag from her hands, but she stepped back.

“This is my best friend Carter, Sean.” She tilted her head to the guy who suddenly stepped from behind her, the guy I’d paid absolutely no attention to. “Carter, this is Sean. My boyfriend.”

“Your what?”

“My boyfriend.”

“Nice to meet you.” Sean extended his hand to me, and I forced myself to shake it. “Do you mind if you let us in? I really need to lie down. We had a terrible flight, flying back in coach all the way here.”

I opened my door wider, letting them in— keeping my eyes on Ari as she gave Sean a kiss on his cheek. Right in front of me. Right in fucking front of me.

“The bathroom is down that hall and to your left,” she said, smiling at him. “Oh, and I guess these pillows and blankets are for us. You want blue or green?”

“Green.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked away. “I’ll be right back.”

What. The. Fuck… “Ari…” I walked over to her and she ignored me, unfolding the blankets and setting up the pillows. “Ari…I know you hear me talking to you.”

“I hear you.”

“Is this Sean thing a joke? After all this time, are you playing a prank on me?”

“Why would someone fly from France to America as a joke? He really is my boyfriend.”

“When did that happen?”

“About a month ago.” She looked confused. “Didn’t you get my letter?”

“This one?” I held up the one I’d just received today.

“No…” she said. “There was another one…”

“I would believe that, but you don’t have the best track record with sending me shit. Did you get mine?”

“The one about hoping to see me and hang out again someday? Or, was it the one that said, say something—anything, Ari? Please?”

“No…Not that one. Although, I must say it’s good to know you were actually fucking reading what I wrote.”

“Could you not curse at me like that?” She crossed her arms. “I haven’t been home for five minutes and you’re snapping at me?”