Page 44 of Yours, For Good

The light of the library was on. My eyes searched for Nora as soon as I crossed the door; I found her on the sofa, her feet up on the cushions, her shapely, thick legs straight and crossed at the ankles. She focused on her phone as she typed fast.

"Oh— I'm interrupting." I stopped in my tracks. "I can come back later…"

"No, no." Her eyes remained on the device, but she folded her legs under her to make room for me on the couch. "I'll be done in a sec."

I sat down on the other side of the sofa, moving slowly; it still felt wrong to disrupt her. She seemed so focused, despite the little smirk curling her lips. Whatever she did took all of her attention. She enjoyed it, too, if the shine around her was any sign…

She really took joy out of the little things. She carved it out of thin air, and slathered it on her skin where it nourished whatever source of light she carried inside, and glinted for every witness to marvel at.

Wonder cut across my ribcage; a sharp blade clearing a path through thick vegetation. The trail opened among the hundred little moments we'd shared in person, hell, even in the parts of her personality that shone through her letters. My fascination with her, the way it perplexed me and enticed me in equal measure… it was a missing piece in the puzzle, one I hadn't known had been misplaced.

If I followed this path, I'd see the real picture. It was close… it meant…

"Sent." She put her phone in the tight space between her thigh and the sofa's back cushion.

Not a second later, my phone vibrated in my pocket, indicating I had received an email from Nora to my Mr. B— to the John Grier pupil address.

I pressed my lips, my eyes closing for an instant. Fuck, I had set up that notification. It shouldn't surprise me that it worked.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"Yep." I opened one eye to glance at her. "You?"

Please tell me you didn't hear that notification.

She watched me with an even clarity in her eyes. "You look in pain."

"It'll pass. I think." I gave her a small smile, and hoped it proved to her that everything was okay. "I came here to ask— what do you want to do tonight?"

"We should do something, right?"

"I think so. I don't usually do much, but Lizzie mentioned fireworks earlier today."

"Fireworks?" Nora asked, right as Lizzie joined us in the library.

She smiled at us, and put the basket she carried on top of a nearby table. "Fireworks, yes! I thought you two might enjoy that."

"What's in the basket?" Nora got up and, without putting her shoes on yet— she'd left them next to the sofa— she opened one of the lids keeping the secret contents safe.

Lizzie let her snoop. "Just a few cookies in case you get peckish, and a thermos with decaf coffee in case you get cold. A blanket to sit on to watch the spectacle."

I stood and approached them. "You spoil us. Thank you."

Nora cast playful eyes my way. I had no issue reading the thoughts in her mind.

She's spoiling you.

I smirked and rolled my eyes.

"Okay, go. Shoo! Be young. Go out and enjoy the fireworks."

"Do you want to come with us?" Nora asked.

"Oh, no." Lizzie tsked. "I'm too old for that. George and I will be fast asleep by the time the bells toll at midnight. Carrie and Amasai went out already."

She gave me a set of keys. Nora stepped back to the sofa, and put on her shoes.

"Thank you, Lizzie."