Page 84 of Wonderstruck

Letting myself memorise them,counting up to 28 freckles this time, was enough to settle my heart after that emotinal warfare.

For now.

But I made a silent promise to myself that I'd tell her everything. Soon.

Becausefuckturning us into Armad and Marguerite.

“So, whatdid you want to tell me?” Rory asked, as we came to crosswalk.

I shook my head, bringing my eyesback together. “Hmm?”

She looked at me, that classic smilein place. “You texted me before and said you had something you wanted to tell me?”

Reality tracked me down then.

My eyes widened. “Fuck. I did.And… oh my God, I don’t even know how to say this.”

Those doh eyes narrowed on me. “Good?”

I shook my head, turning to faceher. “Better than good.”

Her free hand flailed, and her smilebeamed.And something about how happy she was for me undid me for a moment.

I breathed in, ignoring the crowds gathering around us as I looked at her, my smile barely contained. “I may or may not have a meeting with a Quebec Knights scout next week.”

Her face breezed through all thehappy emotions I was too preoccupied to name. She was all I could look at, as her smile widened along with her eyes, letting me count each and every shade of brown that lived in them.

“You’re kidding. Tell me you’rekidding!” She squealed the words, coming towards me and gripping my arm.

I didn’t hold back on my laugh. “Actually I was kidding. I tookyour manifesting advice seriously so I’m just trying to speak it into existence. I think your reaction is definitely going to help the universe put it in motion now—” Before I could even take a breath, her coffee was on the floor and her arms wrapped around me.

“Finn Rhodes, do you know howproud I am of you?” She said as she squeezed me, her face resting on my shoulder.

If there was ever a moment where Ineeded time to stop it would be now. And if there were ever a moment I’d want to preserve, never forgetting a single second, I’d be a fool to not choose this one.

That fresh pastry smell was all overher, keeping me grounded in the moment. Making me forget the doubts that had crept into my mind just then.Her breaths were tickling my ear, in a way that felt like tiny whispers that I’d spend forever trying to make out. Her body was perfectly moulded against mine, as though were were two parts of the same star that had exploded when we crossed paths.

And for a moment I let myselfwonder how I could ever be scared ofsomething that felt so safe?

She pulled back too soon, herarms sliding down mine until her warm gaze was fixed on me. “When’s the meeting?”

I didn’t react, not with my faceanyway. This was the only part of this meeting that I hated. The part that had me nearly backing out of it when I ran back into Burton’s office to ask when all this was happening.

I swallowed, guilt twisting in mystomach as I braved her stare. “November 2nd.”

Translation: the day of herregionals competition.

I watched the light drain from hereyes, only for a second, before the signal switched to walk and the crowds pushed us. But still, I saw those shields go up, and before I knew it her smile turned from genuine to forced. “Oh.”She mumbled as we began to walk, her eyes falling back ahead of her.

We hadn’t actually spoken aboutme coming to the competition, but then again, I didn’t think we had to. I was there for her recital, and I wanted to be there for every competition she skated in. Missing the chance to watch her skate was heartbreaking, because she wassodamngood.

I shook my head, reaching for her as we made it to the other side. “I know, and if this wasn’t theKnights, I’d be at that rink at 6 am to be sure that we had the best seat to watch you. I’d be driving you myself just so I know you got there safe. But…”

She shook her head. “No, are you kidding? This isyour dream, Finn. You’ve helped me chase mine and now it’s your turn.” Her arms shook me, as her smile grew.

This one was genuine. I could always tell the difference.

“This is your shot.”

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