Page 72 of Forever

I pressed my lips against hers. I really liked the sound of that too.

Chapter 18

Sunday

Brooklyn

I couldn’t stop smiling. We’d agreed not to tell anyone the news yet. But I was so freaking hopeful. I was worried I might feel…numb. Trying to somehow push away the pain from the past. But Matt seemed so sure everything was going to be okay. And I think because of his excitement, all I could feel was excitement too.

Matt walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. He put his hands on my stomach and kissed the side of my neck. “Justin will be here any minute,” he said.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell Justin why we needed to see him. He’s going to freak out.”

“It seemed like a better thing to do in person.”

I turned around so I could look up at him. “We don’t even have a date.”

Matt shrugged. “Sometime in November.”

“November starts in two days. What if Justin is already fully booked?” I pressed my lips together. “What am I saying? He’s the best. Of course he’s already fully booked.”

“Justinisthe best,” Matt said. “Which means he’ll figure it out.”

“I really don’t want to do it without him.”

Matt smiled. “And we won’t.”

I believed him again. His positive attitude was hard not to accept as truth. After all, Matthew Caldwell had always gotten everything he’d wanted. Including me. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

There was a knock on the door.

“Let me get it.” I hurried over to the door and opened it.

Justin was wearing a red velvet vest and matching top hat and bowtie. His bare chest was covered in glitter. He looked like a very sparkly ringleader. He slammed his walking stick on the ground. “Why are you not in costume?” He looked over my shoulder at Matt. “Why are neither of you in costume? Although I do love the outfit, Matt. ‘Tis my favorite season.”

Matt looked down at his gray sweatpants.

“Are we supposed to be dressed up?” I asked.

“It’s Halloween weekend! I thought you were inviting me to a big bash.”

Oh.I can see why he probably assumed that. And now I felt awful that we hadn’t invited him to the Caldwell Halloween party on Friday. This was why Matt should have told him why we were calling.

“Sorry,” I said. “No party. At least…not until you help us.”

Justin’s eyes grew round. “I can’t help you throw a Halloween party at 8 o’clock on Mischief Night. Have you lost your minds?” He walked past us and into the kitchen. “I didn’t eat any carbs today because I was saving the calories for tequila. You better at least have tequila.”

“I can definitely make you a drink,” Matt said.

“No. We’re doing shots! You both owe me shots.” He sat down at the kitchen island.

Matt grabbed two shot glasses and poured them both a shot.

“You too, babe,” Justin said and handed his glass to me.

Shit.“I’m good.” I tried to hand the glass back, but he refused.

“No, you need to be on our level.”

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