Page 148 of Surprisingly Us

The way she’d told me what she was doing to herself. Her strained voice and soft panting. How those full pink lips must have parted when she came. I know, because I’ve seen it, and it’s so fucking beautiful. But, more than all of that, I love that she was comfortable enough with me to let herself go. She trusted me to do that with her, and that’s the most important thing.

I’m recalling that night with Lettie when Ramsey finds me moping out on the sun deck.

He drops into the chair beside me. “You want to take the boat out?” he asks.

“Nah.”

“Play ping pong?” he suggests.

I shrug, not even bothering to answer that one.

“Well, you’re a ray of sunshine today.”

“I know. I’m in a crappy mood.”

Ramsey sticks out his bottom lip in a teasing pout, then picks up one of the friendship bracelets I made earlier.

I motion to the box filled with bracelets. “I started making them one night and couldn’t stop. It was fun.”

“This only confirms my suspicions that inside you truly are an eight-year-old girl.”

“Fuck off, you know you love this shit, too.”

He grins. “You’re right, but is there a reason you made this many?”

I shrug. “I told a few of the kids at the children’s hospital that I’d bring them sometime. They make them, too. I said we could exchange them.”

“All right. Let’s go.” Ramsey starts to gather up my collection of bracelets.

“Where?”

“You need to clear this funky energy.” He waves a hand around me as if there is an actual substance clogging up the air.

I want to argue with him, but he’s right. I need something to take my mind off Lettie and my inability to be there for her.

Taking the bracelets to the children’s hospital immediately lifts my spirits. Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when I stop by their rooms is priceless.

“Thank you for coming back,” Brittney says.

I’m lucky she was on her lunch break in the lobby and recognized me.

“Thanks for letting me back in the building. I was nervous the security guard was going to throw me out.”

After I make the rounds, I realize there’s one last room I want to stop by.

Brittney smiles, but then it drops. “Madelyn’s having a rough day. Do you want to leave a few bracelets with me and I’ll give them to her later?”

“Sure.” I nod, even though disappointment hits me that I won’t get to see the little girl who inspired me to make them.

I pick out a few that I had made for her based off her favorite albums and songs, then hand them to Brittney.

I’m on my way toward the elevator when movement catches my eye. Standing in the doorway to her room is Madelyn.

“Hey.” Not certain that she wanted to see me, I give her a small wave.

“You came back.”

“Yeah, I said I would.”

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