Lucky Caller(70)

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After that, we discovered the true purpose of the couch in the studio. It was for this—precisely this—it was placed here for the sole purpose of making out with each other, for this exact circumstance when we needed to kiss exponentially more and also recline at the same time. It was good work on the part of the universe, and I commended the universe for it, and then thought of nothing but Jamie and how incredibly awesome this felt, until the moment the door opened and Sasha stepped in.

“Agh!” she yelped, and then, face brightening, pointing a finger at us, “Ahh!”

Neither of us moved, but Jamie gave a high-pitched, “Hi! Sorry!”

“I forgot my phone.” Sasha looked gleeful. “And I just won the bet.”

“What was it?”

“Which one of us would walk in on the two of you”—she waved a hand—“just like this.” She stepped in, quickly crossed over to her usual spot, picked up the phone lying to one side of the monitor, and then crossed back. “Have lots of fun!” she called. “Joydeep is gonna flip his shit.”

She pulled the door shut behind her.

Jamie just looked at me, eyes wide, and then we both burst out laughing.





68.


Colby: Well, I think they’re both being ridiculous. Like the whole thing is stupid. I’m not, like, an expert or whatever, but I do know that communication is important. One of them just needs to go to the other one and say, Hey. I like you. If you like me too, let’s, you know. Take it to the bone zone.

Sammy: Colby!

Colby: What? It’s true! I mean, everyone should take it to the bone zone at their own pace, if that’s something they’re into. Maybe it’s not. The bone zone isn’t for everyone. But I’m just saying, they need to tell each other how they feel.

Sammy: Oh my god, you’re so embarrassing.

Colby: You like me, though.

Sammy: Questionable.

Colby: Don’t act like you’ve never wanted to take me to the bone zone.

Sammy: COLBY!

Colby: How about another message? Dear Cat Chat …





69.


IT WAS LATE IN THE evening a few days later when my phone buzzed with a message from Jamie: Would you rather eat ten whole lemons in one go or give up everything related to lemons forever?

Hmm, I replied. I’d rather tell you in person Meet downstairs? He sent back almost instantly. The crystal room?

I smiled.

Mom was in her room already. Next to me, Sidney was tucked up under the covers. Only Rose was still up, sitting in bed with her computer in her lap.

“Hey, I’m gonna go … run and borrow a book from Jamie,” I said quietly, climbing out of bed.

“Uh-huh,” Rose said, infused with a heavy dose of skepticism.

“If Mom comes in, just say I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve got my phone.”

“What about your pictograms?” Rose looked up. “Are they handy, just in case?”

“We’re just gonna talk.”

“Uh-huh,” she said again, just as skeptical, but her gaze shifted back to her computer. “Be safe.”

I pulled on my shoes and then paused in the doorway. “What are you working on?”

“Just looking at some classes. I might register for the summer.”

“Psychology stuff?”

“Maybe,” she replied.

I nodded. “Good.”

One of the doors to the Crystal Room—the Mama Bear ballroom’s formal name—was open when I got downstairs, and I slipped inside. The streetlamps and the building’s exterior lights cast rectangles of orange light across the room. Jamie was already there, standing at one of the windows, and he turned as I approached, looking soft in sleep pants and a hoodie.

“Give up lemons entirely,” I said, and then kissed him.

It was the beginning of a long series of kisses that didn’t pause until Jamie rested his forehead against mine and murmured, “You could never use anything lemon-scented though. No lemon candy. Lemon meringue pie. You couldn’t drink lemonade.” His eyes widened. “Or listen to Lemonade!”

“You’re saying you’d eat the lemons?”

“I would absolutely eat the lemons.”

“Hmm,” I said, and kissed his ear.

“I just feel like the ramifications of no lemons…” His breath hitched. “Could be a lot more … widespread … than you think…”

Nothing was said for a while after that.

But eventually we settled down on the floor, sitting with our backs resting against the wall, and we just talked. Jamie played with my hand absently, running his fingers over mine, as he told me about Gram and Papa, their trip to the doctor’s office earlier that day, how Papa was doing really well, all things considered. I told him about the plans for Mom and Dan’s ceremony a couple weeks from now; the officiant had been booked. We all had our outfits picked out. I didn’t know it then, sitting there in the Mama Bear ballroom with Jamie, but Mom would invite the Russells too, and Gram, Papa, and Jamie would join us on that bright May day, the sky endlessly blue. I’d surprise myself by how emotional I’d get at the ceremony. How happy I’d feel.