Page 83 of Some Things Never Change

“Sure.”

Ever since our first date, we’d both been incredibly busy. So much so that our second date was even on a workday because we both agreed we wanted to stay home on the weekend. It was at an amazing restaurant with great food and I loved every moment of it. But, as much as I love going out to great places with Andy, I knew I wanted something a little more low-key this week with him. That was why we agreed to a typical dinner and movie date, but it seemed Andy felt like tying it all off with a drive.

He opened the door for me and waited for me to get in, like a gentleman. He got in and we both buckled up before he started the car. After grabbing giant, juicy burgers at a local diner to celebrate my sale today, we drove aimlessly through the empty streets of the city, sipping on vanilla milkshakes.

Instead of talking like we usually did, our drive became my screaming karaoke session to a 2000s throwback playlist as Andy laughed along. From Rihanna to Lady Gaga to Britney Spears, I was singing along to all the pop songs I remembered from when we were younger.

“You’re such a terrible singer,” laughed Andy as Fergie’s Fergalicious came to an end. “All you do is scream.”

I narrowed my eyes playfully at him. “Excuse you, sir. As far as I’m aware, I am an amazing singer. You just don’t know how to appreciate my vocal talents.”

“Sure, Tink. Believe whatever you want.”

I was going to come back with a witty remark when Taylor Swift’s You Belong with Me started playing and I let out a tiny squeal. “I haven’t listened to this song in so long!”

“Me too,” said Andy with a small chuckle.

I looked over at him and saw that he was grinning. He turned to watch me as we pulled up to a stoplight near our neighborhood. We were going to call it a night and this song perfectly wrapped up everything. I smiled back as I held up my phone as my fake mic. I was ready to sing my heart out to one of the songs I used to listen to as the soundtrack of my teenage unrequited love.

Much like the actual music video for You Belong with Me, I was a teen who had the luck of living next door to my crush and went to sleep every night, hopelessly in love with her best friend. Little did I know Andy K. Hughes had always felt the same, too.

I let out a laugh as I started singing along to the song in my sing-song screaming fashion. Once the song was about to hit the chorus, I yelled, “Sing with me, Andy!”

“No!” He laughed.

“Oh, come on! You used to sing along with Shoua, Jonathan, and I all the time!”

Andy let out a small groan, and I laughed as I started to sing the chorus. We were a few blocks from Andy’s place, and I was certain I would still be screaming to this song even when we got home.

I could hear Andy’s husky, deeper voice singing along with me while I was screaming the chorus out loud, and I began bouncing in my seat. His grin grew even wider at my excitement as we both sang the song together.

Together, we belted the song out loud. Even though Andy acted as if he wasn’t going to enjoy it, he sang along perfectly with tons of enthusiasm. The song was still going by the time we reached home, so we sat in the car as we finished. We were facing each other as we sang the bridge, but Andy slowly came to a stop as I continued singing by myself.

He wore the same look he did after I showed him all the snacks I packed in my bag before we went into the theater—tender and loving. The big grin he wore fell into a small but gentle smile as he watched me.

Before I knew it, Andy leaned in. His lips brushed against mine in a soft kiss. My heart fluttered in my chest as I leaned into him, deepening our kiss and savoring the taste of him on my lips. We kissed and kissed as the song drew to a close when he suddenly pulled away.

“You’re right, Julie,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “I’ve always belonged with you.”

I got butterflies in my stomach, and my heart skipped a beat, again, at his words. I smiled and kissed his lips again. “Glad you finally got the message,” I laughed.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

There were some files I was trying to look for in my bottom drawer at work when I noticed the knee I was kneeling on was a bit more sensitive than normal. After finding what I was looking for, I pulled up my pant leg to find myself with two small blooming purple bruises on it.

“When did I get this?” I asked.

“Probably when you and Andy had too much fun last night,” replied Cindy, scaring the living crap out of me.

It wasn’t too late, but the entire office was already gone. My manager even left me the keys to lock up the place. I thought I was the only one left until Cindy popped out of thin air right by my desk. I was touching up some E-Design for a virtual presentation with an online client tomorrow morning. I asked Andy to wait an extra hour and told him I would reward him by buying him dinner and even dessert if he wanted it. He obliged, now probably working on his own extra work on the eight floors above me.

I glanced up at her and rolled my eyes. “No, it’s not,” I replied, pulling my pant leg down. “It’s probably from the gym.”

“From the gym or from Andy’s bedroom? The two sound the same.”

I shook my head. “Why are you still here? I thought you left already.”

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