Speechless(187)

                “I like how you call me ‘judgmental’ and ‘dork’ in the same                     breath.”

                “It’s one of my many charms.”

                We lie there for a while, but even as tired as I am, I’m too                     wired for sleep. My head is buzzing with everything that’s happened. And I do                     mean everything; the weight of the last month                     settles over me like a blanket.

                “You asleep?” Sam says softly. I wonder if he’s thinking about                     everything, too.

                “Not yet.” I snuggle against his chest. “Tell me a story?”

                “Hmm. Did I ever tell you about how Dex got Rosie’s?”

                “No! I wondered how he ended up there.”

                “It was his mom’s place. She died a few years ago—cancer, I                     think—and she left it to him. He was living in Toledo with Lou, and so they                     moved up together to take it over.”

                “Do you think they’re going to get married?”

                “Dex and Lou? I don’t think they believe in marriage.”

                “Really? Why not?”

                “I dunno. Some people don’t need that, you know? I think they                     just believe in being together.”

                That makes sense, I guess. Actually the more I think about it,                     it’s kind of romantic. The fact that they don’t need a piece of paper for their                     relationship to mean something. I slide my arm around Sam and nestle into his                     chest, closing my eyes, half-asleep. Yes. Yes, I can definitely see how being                     together would be enough.





                                      day thirty-five

                When I open my eyes and stretch, Sam’s chest still                     serving as my pillow, it’s light outside.

                Oh, shit. Shit! Light!

                I shake Sam awake and hiss, “Oh, my God, you really have to go,                     like, right this second.”

                He rubs at his eyes. He never even took off his glasses. “Right                     now?” he mumbles sleepily.

                “Unless you want my father to castrate you on sight, yes.”

                This is enough to fully wake him. He tumbles out of bed,                     hopping around as he yanks on his shoes. He starts for my door when I grab his                     elbow and jerk him back.