Page 47 of Read Me (Forget the Past 2)

Then the guilt hits.

“If I had a choice, I would go to sleep on December fifteenth and then wake up on December seventeenth.”

I told Cole I wanted to skip his birthday.

“I’m a horrible friend.”

He frowns, leaning toward me. “Summer, no.”

“Yes, I am. Look at how great you’ve been today, and I’ve just…ruined it.”

“You haven’t.”

But I’m off the rails now.

“This is supposed to be your special day! Where everyone you know celebrates that you came into the world.”

“Not sure a lot of people want to celebrate that.”

“Well I do! Oh my god. I took you to a cemetery. On yourbirthday.” My breath comes faster, as if I’m about to hyperventilate on the fact that I’ve been the most depressing birthday companion in the existence of the world.

But Cole just shrugs. “I like cemeteries.”

“You are too calm about this!” I reach for my beer and chug half the glass, hoping the alcohol works fast. Both to help me calm down, but also to ensure that fun Summer comes out in full force and saves the day.

Cole watches me, his eyes getting wider with each massive swallow.

Taking a break, I swipe the foam from my lip with the back of my hand, then lean toward my friend, intensity burning from my pores.

There’s still time. I can save this.

“If you could have chosen anything to do today, what would it be?”

Cole’s head quirks to the side, and his teeth just fiddle with the piercing in his lip in a very distracting way. But I’m even more thrown off when he answers.

“I did choose. I wanted to spend the day with you.”

After that mic drop of a statement, Cole leans his elbows on the bar and reaches for his own beer, sipping at a more sedate pace. Meanwhile, I have to clutch the edges of my stool to keep from falling over.

Spend the day with me?

That’s when another very important fact I had overlooked makes itself known.

Today is Monday. Cole comes to the library Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. I’ve never seen him in the library on a Monday.

But he came today. Because it’s his birthday.

And he wanted to spend time with me on his special day.

My heart kerthunks heavily in my chest, and I press my palm against my breastbone, hoping Cole can’t see the intense beating.

“Not the whole day, I’m sure.” My voice has gotten breathy with confusion.

He stares at the thick dark liquid in his glass.

“As much as you were willing.”

Oh my. Oh my goodness.

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