June, Reimagined (46)

“He’s just a misanthrope who lives next door.”

Matt stopped June on the landing. “Remember Butt-Crack Jim from across the street? He was a total misanthrope. We were convinced he was hiding kids in his basement.”

June pointed at him. “I blame you for that. You made us watch The ’Burbs like one hundred times. After that, I swear I could hear kids crying at night.”

“Turned out, his mom had just died, and it was him crying.”

“Don’t remind me.” June pulled Matt up the rest of the stairs and down the hallway toward her room. “I still feel bad about calling the cops.”

“Well, it was criminal to show that much butt crack when doing yard work.”

“How did he not feel it? His pants were like halfway down his ass.”

Matt shrugged. “We ignore what we don’t want to change.” June opened her bedroom door. Matt walked in, set down his messenger bag and a duffel bag, and sat on the neatly made bed. “So, this is where June Merriweather has been hiding out . . .”

June hesitated at the door. It still felt surreal that Matt was here.

“Come here.” Matt patted the bed next to him, and June joined him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Please tell me you’re happy to see me.”

June sat at attention. She had rarely, if ever, seen insecurity in Matt. “Why would I not be?”

“After what happened . . .”

“Let’s not talk about it, Matty.”

He placed a hand on June’s. “Agreed. For the next three days, I won’t bring up what a dick I was, or how fucking sorry I am, or how much I’ve missed you.”

“Only three days?”

“I have a huge exam next week. I can’t miss it.”

“Right. College.” June nudged Matt lovingly. “Did you really miss me that much?”

“Turns out, I need you, June Merriweather.” Matt took June in his arms. His familiar warmth eased down her spine like a trickle of water. But was she happy? That wasn’t the right word. She was relieved and confused and surprised. And something told her Matt’s appearance held only more surprises.

“Hey”—Matt leaned back to look at her—“are you OK?”

“I just can’t believe you’re here.”

He pulled her closer, and they lay down, bodies curled toward each other like two halves of an oyster. He took her hand and placed it on his heart. “I’m here,” he said. “Flesh and bone. Right next to you. For the next three days.”

Matt’s chest rose and fell steadily under June’s hand. Soon he fell asleep, his clothes still on. June took in his serene, familiar face, his long eyelashes, his perfectly arched lips. His lean body spread the length of the bed.

June heard a quiet knock on her door and rose from the bed. Outside her room were her roller bag and backpack. She dragged her belongings into her room and began to unpack again, rehanging clothes in the closet and placing clothes in her dresser drawers. She hid Josh’s urn at the back of the closet again, feeling the weight of it even more than before.

Then she pulled on the Ohio State hoodie, brushed her teeth, and climbed into the bed next to Matt. She snuggled in close, hoping maybe, just maybe, his smell would return to the hoodie again.

But the longer she lay there, the less sleepy June became. Staring at the ceiling, she felt the weight of her best friend beside her. He had come for good reasons. He had come for her. But Matt’s appearance in Scotland instantly changed things, and she had neither expected nor prepared for it. Now her lies, which had been thousands of miles away, were asleep in bed with her.





TWENTY


Waking next to Matt was as jarring as waking next to Lennox, but for different reasons. For a moment, June forgot where she was and who was next to her. She reached across the bed and felt the body under the covers in a wave of anticipation, expecting to find muscle and mass, instead finding the lean figure of her best friend.

He was reading a book. “Jet lag is a fucking bitch. I’ve been up since four.”

June yawned. “Well, you fell asleep almost as soon as you got here. What do you expect?” She pushed herself off the pillow and sat up.

Matt closed the book and set it down. “What are we doing today? I’m starving.”

June checked the clock. It was seven thirty in the morning. “I have to work in an hour and a half.”

“What? But I’m only here for three days.”

“If I had known you were coming, I would have asked for time off, but you just showed up.”

“No, I get it.” Matt took a deep breath. “But it’s good I showed up, right? You and me together, that’s a good thing.”

The question was wholly unlike Matt, so unsure, and it was her fault.

“Yes,” June said quickly. “God, yes. A good thing.”

“Good.” Matt stood up from the bed and opened his duffel bag. “Now you can have your presents.”

“Presents?” June bounced up onto her knees. “I love presents.”

“I know. Now hold out your hands.” He placed a Resch’s Bakery box in June’s hands.

She knew what was inside just by the package. She gaped at him. “You didn’t.”