Free The Future of Our Past (The Remembrance Trilogy) by Kahlen Aymes Page B

now.”
    “Julia, why are you pushing me away? Is there someone that you’re seeing? That photographer?”
    “What? No! Ryan…but it doesn’t seem fair that you…” My voice was betraying me, emotion making my words stilted. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat as more tears fell. I snuffled.
    “Julia. Please stop this. I can’t do this on the phone.”
    What am I supposed to do? I felt like I was falling apart.
    “This is what I’ve been afraid of; that trying to have some sort of romantic relationship would make things weird between us, and I really don’t want that. I…just…”
    “I can’t…don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’m just so nuts when we argue, especially when I can’t get to you to fix it. Are you going to San Francisco for Thanksgiving?” His voice was tired and I ached to put my arms around him.
    “Maybe, I don’t know for sure. Dad might have to work anyway and who knows what emergency will come up here. If I have to work the Friday after, I won’t have time to go home. Are you going to Chicago?”
    “No. I’m coming to you. That’s…if you want me. We need to figure this shit out and not on the damned phone.”
    I rolled onto my side and curled into a ball, drawing my knees to my chest. “Of course, I want you.” The double meaning of the words throbbed through me. Did he understand?
    “I miss you, sweetheart; so much.” Hearing the endearment made it more like he was my boyfriend, like maybe this was real. I ached to tell him I loved him, but didn’t want the first time to be on the phone.
    His voice was throbbing with emotion. “That girl really was just some airhead from my Gross Anatomy group. She’s nothing but a pain in my ass. Really, Julia.”
    “Okay.”
    “What is Ellie doing for Thanksgiving?” The velvet voice became even more velvet.
    “Going to Harris’ parents, I think.”
    “For the whole weekend?” His words were slow and I could picture him in my mind; sitting on the floor in front of his bed, plucking at his eyebrow or lower lip.
    “I think so. Why?”
    “Can you tell Paul that you can’t make it and I’ll tell my parents that I have to stay at school? I’ll come to Los Angeles. We’re going to finish what we started that night in Boston, okay?”
    My heart thrummed in my chest and heat and moisture pooled in my lower body. He was so sexy; his voice was making love to me.
    “Jules?”
    “Yes. I’m scared, Ryan.”
    “Of me?”
    “Of losing you. As much as it kills me to think of you with someone else, I can’t bear losing you. What if…”
    “Julia, you can never lose me. Don’t you know that yet?”
    I nodded even though he couldn’t see and took a shaky breath that he must have heard. “Mmm huh.”
    “So, I’ll fly in the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.”
    “Mmmmm, hmm.”
    “Are you okay? I worry about you all the time.” I closed my eyes and love swelled through my chest to the point of not being able to breathe.
    “Yes, now that I can finally hear your voice,” I said breathlessly.
    “Oh, baby.” I heard the blankets rustle and the throp when he punched his pillow. “We’ll make this work because I can’t live with any other option. I miss you, honey, but I’m going to let you go to bed. Get some clothes on your sexy ass or I won’t be able to sleep just thinking about it,” he teased lightly.
    I smiled through my tears.
    “And Julia? Don’t forget to remember me…okay?” He said the words he’d said before I left him in Boston.
    “That’s impossible,” I said achingly. “I hope you enjoy the package. You should get it tomorrow.”
    “You’re an angel. I can’t wait. I’ll call you.”
    “Yes. Goodnight, Ryan.”
    “Night, babe.”
    I rolled over and closed my damp eyes as the call ended. Three and a half weeks and I’d be in his arms. My heart and body ached in anticipation. I’d never want that weekend to end.

~4~
     

    I put the story boards for the February issue in my office and locked the