Page 152 of Never Not Friends

I stop and look back at her.

“I really did love Vinny. And I wasn’t trying to take him from you when we were younger. I thought you didn’t care. If I had known, I would’ve done things differently.”

“I believe you. And I wasn’t trying to take him from you now.”

“I believe you too.”

We look at each other.

Twelve years of bad assumptions and two fifteen-year-old girls who had absolutely no idea what their decisions would turn into.

“I’ll see you later, Jules.”

And I really hope I do.

VINNY

I had two weeks off from work so I could honeymoon in Hawaii and get settled into my new life.

Instead, I spent the first week boxing up all of Juliet’s stuff for her dad to pick up.

And the second week doing a lot of thinking.

All that thinking and weighing things in my head has led me here: to an elementary school parking lot on a Friday afternoon.

The school buses are long gone, but Emma’s car remains.

I could’ve texted her. Maybe even should’ve. But instead, I’m leaning against her car, waiting for her to come outside.

I didn’t prepare a speech or anything.

I just wanted to see her.

I thought I was ready to see her, but as she steps outside with a coworker, I seriously regret how unprepared I am for this moment.

She looks cute. I hate how quickly I notice that, but she does. I haven’t allowed myself to really look at Emma in this way, but now that I can, it’s the first thing I see. The way her red hair glistens in the sunlight. How her floral skirt swishes around her knees as she walks. Her animated smile as she tells a story, and I just know it’s making her blue eyes sparkle at the same time.

My palms sweat as I watch her say goodbye to her friend and turn toward her car.

Her footsteps halt for just a fraction of a second when she sees me.

I wave.

Wave.

Like I’m Forrest Gump or something.

She keeps walking the last fifteen feet, eyes never leaving mine, until she’s standing right in front of me.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

Why the heck didn’t I come up with a speech or, if not a speech, at least a better opening line besides hi?

“I thought about texting, but…”

“This is perfect.” She laughs nervously.