Page 161 of The Design of Goodbye
I looked up. “Who gave this to you?”
“You know.”
“Why didn’t he give it to me?”
He shrugged. “He didn’t say.”
“Then, whatdidhe say?”
“He said he’d be waiting for you.”
“Where?”
“Where it all began.”
* * *
Liam didn’t notice me biking toward him, so I took him in. He was leaning against the stop sign near East Reed High School’s parking lot and staring at the sky. He was dressed in gray slacks, a short-sleeve teal button-up shirt, and tie. He looked healthy. Content.Free.
He took my breath away.
Loose gravel crunched under my tires as I skidded to a stop near him. With surprised eyes and a proud smile, he watched me.
“So,” I stated as I got off my bike, “this is where it all began.”
“It is,” he answered, still smiling.
His voice gave me goose bumps. I walked up to him. I couldn’t believe he was in front of me after so many months.
I handed him his painting. “You finished it.”
“I did.”
“It’s beautiful.” I wanted to kiss him so badly. It was as if we were opposite sides of a magnetic force—it wasthathard to resist stepping forward and touching my lips to his. But kissing would come later. Right now, we had too many things to say. I took the painting back. “I’m kidnapping this one, too.”
This painting—out of every one he’d ever shown me—meant the most.
“No kidnapping needed. It’s yours.”
“Thank you.”
“So,” he began shyly, “you told my story.”
I took a moment to answer. “Yes.” I tilted my head. “And no.” I added contemplatively, “I kind of like to think I told ours.”
He reached his hand out. His hand stopped midway between us, like he wasn’t sure what he was allowed to do.
“Your collection was amazing.” He grasped the puzzle piece necklace I’d worn every day since he’d left. “But I never expected anything else.”
“I can’t believe you came.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he said. “I’m sorry you didn’t win.”
I gripped his hand that was playing with my necklace. I needed to feel his warmth. Feelhim.
“It’s really okay,” I said honestly. “As cheesy as it sounds, I feel like a winner.”
“It’s not cheesy at all.” He stared at me for a moment, looking as shocked as I felt. “How have you been?”
