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“I guess you could say I was sort of a police officer.”
Corps CORPSSSSS
“That about sums it up,” he says. “It wasn’t exactly my dream career.”
Uhg he lies
He smirks. “My family was out here. I wanted to be closer to them.”
😑 slowly losing confidence in my predictions
Dear Naomi, I want to play a little game. It’s probably killing you that you can’t write back to me, right? I can just imagine how badly you want to. I’ll make you a deal though. I want you to say the word ‘bologna’ in your 5AM weather report. If you can do that, I’ll give you a hint about where I am now. Maybe I’ll even include my return address on the next letter. Maybe. Love, Luca
Little cheat
I listen for a moment, noticing that it seems to be moving along to the beat. Naomi: Is that you dancing up there, or do the kittens just have excellent rhythm? The thumping stops almost as soon as I send the message. Then my phone buzzes again. Husky Eyes: You can hear that? Naomi: Yes. Husky Eyes: That was definitely the kittens.
His eyes drop to his phone as my message makes it to him. The corner of his mouth quirks up, and then his eyes raise up from his phone, and when they meet mine, his smile grows wider.
He leans down like he’s going to kiss me, but at the last second, he seems to remember that he’s at work and we’re surrounded by children. He redirects, aiming for my forehead, but his lips land on my eyebrow instead. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever been greeted with an eyebrow kiss before,” I tease him. He smiles, then kisses my other eyebrow. “Just to even things out,” he says.
Bruh
It takes me a minute to notice that Jake isn’t beside me anymore. I turn around and see him watching me from a few feet behind. His hands are tucked into his pockets and his head is tilted at a slight angle. His lips part like he’s going to say something. I watch him, waiting, but then his mouth closes again. His brow wrinkles for just a second, and then he pulls his hands out of his pockets and steps closer to me until he’s right next to me.
“Jesus, Naomi,” he whispers against my lips. “I can’t get enough of you.”
His tone doesn’t sound quite as teasing as I expect. I can’t quite put my finger on it. He almost seems annoyed.
I wonder WHY
Can I come hide away with you,
Bro
It was a letter from Naomi that I had never seen before. It was dated seven months ago, only a few days after I told her about the engagement. Dear Luca, I think you should dump that poor girl before she makes the mistake of marrying you and realizes what a true scumbag you are. Come hide away with me if you need to. You know where I live. Love, Naomi
That bish
It was never my intention to hurt you. I just think that the person I marry should be someone I’m in love with. And I’m sorry that’s not you.” With her left hand in mine, I slid the ring off her finger. She cried out in shock. I stuffed the ring into my pocket, then picked up the box of letters.
UHGGGGGGGGGG STUPID WHATS HER FACE SHE RUINED EVERYTHING UHG
“When it comes to you, I don’t have any rules.”
I see my dad every day.
Oh?
It’s startling to see a letter from Luca with my home address on it rather than the news station. This means that he knows where I live. It makes me wonder what else he knows about me.
Dear Naomi, I waited until now to write again because I was hoping that you got my letter late and that’s why you didn’t say the magic word in your weather report. But you didn’t say it at all this week, and I have to admit that I’m pretty disappointed. Is it because you can’t deviate from your script, or have you lost interest in writing back to me? I guess it’s been two years since you’ve heard from me, so maybe the letters just aren’t as fun for you as they used to be. Maybe you’re even annoyed that I’m writing to you now. Do you remember when I asked if we could be friends on Facebook? I
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Awww
We head to the ladies’ room and lock the door. As soon as we’re alone, we both burst out laughing.
I got a call from an old friend the other day. If you go to Georgia again, tell Maxwell I said hi. Who knew you would go that far to find me? You must like me too, or something. Love, Luca
today. I wonder how it’s possible that his letter made it all the way from San Diego to Miami in less than a day. Then it hits me: he’s definitely not in San Diego anymore.
🙄
“You know, I was half expecting to only see a floating head when you opened the door.” “Oh God. You saw the video?” “Saw the video?” he repeats. “I was watching it live.” “You watched me live?” “Every morning,” he says. “It’s my favorite show on TV.”
That’s how he gets the letters to you so fast he just has to take the elevator
just because you report the weather doesn’t mean you’re going to run outside waving a sheet of tin foil during a thunderstorm.” “Oh no. You know that aluminum doesn’t attract lightning, right?” He frowns. “It doesn’t?” It’s my turn to laugh. “No. It doesn’t.” “Damn. Everything I’ve been taught about lightning as a kid is a lie.”
but there’s so much seaweed that it’s hard to enjoy the white-sand beaches the way they’re supposed to be enjoyed.” “Maybe you should move to San Diego.” “Oh really? Is that your way of trying to get rid of me?” “Damn. You saw right through my plan.” I elbow him in the ribs.
“How do you know there aren’t any sharks?” I ask. “There could be, but we’ll be safe. Sharks prefer redheads. The color reminds them of blood.” “What? I’m a redhead!” He grabs onto a lock of my hair and examines it. “Damn. You are. Don’t worry, though. While the sharks are distracted with you, I’ll swim ashore and get help.”
Oh would you look at that little jibes lava also makes
How are you okay?” He shrugs. “I used to swim in the ocean all the time. I got used to the salt water.” “Seriously? I thought you said you’ve never been to the beach.” “I practically grew up on the beach,” he says. “Just not this beach.”
Literally luca
“Sounds like a bunch of adorable quirks to me. If you were trying to scare me off, you did a terrible job. I need more of you.” I spread my arms out at my sides, gesturing to my body. “You got me.” “I don’t want just your body.” He scoots a little closer to me, making my pulse speed up and my body feel a little warmer. He leans in and touches his lips softly to mine. “I want all of you.” “My head too?” He smiles, flashing his white teeth. “Yes. Your head too. But preferably with your body attached.”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could do to scare me off, Naomi.” “What if I just started peeing? Right here. Standing up. Through my shorts.” “I would assume you got stung by a jellyfish and I just didn’t notice.” “What if I told you that I was a robot?” “Then I would say whoever built you did an excellent job.” I can hear his hand scraping the sand as he writes our names in it. “What if I told you that I hate kids?” “Then I hate them too.” “And if I told you that I want a baby right now?” “I would say ‘let’s start trying’ but if you’re a robot, then we might have to adopt.”
“Who knew you were such a great artist?” I say. “You should have gone to art school.” “Yeah, but then who would save the walruses?” “I’m sure you could draw them a nice picture.”
“We got over a thousand new followers on our Facebook page yesterday, and we’re still getting more coming in. Everyone loved your floating head.” “Fine. I’ll take a raise, if you insist.”
I pull out the small white envelope, open it, and take out the card. I recognize the handwriting. “Luca,” I say out loud before I start reading. Dear Naomi, A million microscopic bugs live inside these flowers, and when you smell them, all the bugs will get sucked up into your nostrils and eat away at your cartilage until you don’t have a nose anymore. Xoxo, Luca
“Can you tell me where this letter would have been mailed from?” He leans in to look at the envelope, frowns, then snatches it from my hand. He turns it over, shrugs, then hands it back to me. “Didn’t come through the post office,” he says. “No postmark. There isn’t even a stamp.”
S A M E. B U I L D I N G. U H G G G
Speaking of that offer, is it still valid? Because I’d like to come hide away with you if you’ll have me. Just say the word and I’m yours. Love, Luca
AHHHHHH SAY YES ITS FREAKING JAKE
I think that he’s leaving, but then I feel the mattress shift and the blankets move as he climbs back into my bed. His arms close around my waist, and his head rests against my chest.
I think anyone who reads them would know that I’m in love with you. Love, Luca Dear Luca, How can you say that you’re in love with me when we’ve never even met? If that’s how you think you feel, you should have told me a lot sooner. It’s too late now. Love, Naomi Dear Naomi, It’s not too late. Love, Luca
four letters: JAKE
If you continue dating Jake and writing to Luca, you’re just going to keep saying his name
They are the same exact person omg
“That’s what Caitlin calls Joel. Pickles. Well, Mr. Pickles, but still.”
Omg why am I just barely realizing it omg I’m so dumb Joel is his daddddddd uhggggggggggggggg
vvvvvvccvdnxbgdbnznzbxnbxbxb
“I have to tell you something, Naomi.” “What is it?” He takes a deep breath like he’s bracing himself for what he’s about to say. He exhales slowly before he speaks. “The kittens don’t know how to bowl.” “What?” I stomp my foot. “This is a rip-off. I want my money back.”
I look back at the skateboard. “The kittens skate?” “Sort of. They like to sit on the skateboard while I push it across the floor.”
“No,” I interrupted. “You weren’t. That’s what always confused me. You used to take me to the beach every day. We built a home gym and worked out together. Every goddamn memory that I have of you is a good one. But then you up and left for no fucking reason, and I hated you for it. You don’t know how many times I wished that you were an asshole so that I wouldn’t have to miss you so damn much. What is so damn different about your new family that you could make it work with them and not me?”
I wish I had never written back to you. I wish I had chosen a different name out of that damn hat back in fifth grade.” It hurts to hear her say that. “Do you really mean that?” “Yes.” Her voice sounds lower now, like she’s sitting on the floor. I lower myself to the floor so that we’re at the same level.
no 😭
Come hide away with you? Is that invitation still open? Because if it is, I’ll be on the next flight. I know that we say mean things and joke around all the time (at least I hope you’re joking) but I want you to know that I mean it. Love, Luca
“Do you really think you’re the only one who’s hurting over this? I fell in love with you, and I lost you.”
“Luca…” He opens the door, then looks back at me. “It’s too bad you’re also just as mean in real life,” he says. “I guess I dodged a bullet.”
dang
Dear Naomi, I have an idea. If we’re still single by the time we’re both twenty-five, let’s get married. What do you think?
“Sorry,” he says. “I was only coming to get the door for you, but…” “But?” I prod when he trails off. “I didn’t want you to go home thinking that I didn’t want to kiss you.”
“I love you,” I tell him.
XOXOXO Love, Your Husband
YESS
“Besides, the snoring is my fault. You were such a quiet sleeper before all this.” He waves his hand over my belly, distended from seven months of pregnancy.
