“You know, if it weren’t for these flowers, I would’ve sent you away,” I said matter-of-factly, momentarily halting my attack. Of course I didn’t mean a single word of it. And he knew it.
He laughed—this boyish laugh that was like music to my ears. Gosh, I’d missed him.
“But, Colin,” I said, “I do want to know…”
“Anything,” he immediately said. “What do you want to know?”
I hesitated for a moment. “When you gave back the black notebook,” I began, “why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you even try to confirm things with me when you saw me in person? You could’ve asked me—I would’ve understood.”
“I know you would have…” he murmured. “At least, I know now.” He sighed. “Seven, I saw you in the hallway after I gave you back the black notebook. I thought you didn’t call but that turned out to be Maria’s doing. I didn’t know that yet, though, so when I saw you that morning, I wanted to see how you’d react. I had my doubts, but when you avoided looking me in the eye, I…”
“You thought I rejected you?” I asked, surprised how things had been working out on his side.
Colin nodded. “But I still should’ve done something,” he said, voice full of rue. “Maybe it’s a bit too late, but I’m standing my ground, and I’m not planning on leaving you any time soon.”
His words touched me but I had to ask, “But aren’t you leaving for Chicago?”
He shook his head with a smile. “No. I decided to stay right here in Los Angeles. I sent an application to the University of California and just got my acceptance letter yesterday. It’d be at most a half an hour drive from you.”
“Are you serious?” I asked incredulously. “Colin, didn’t you want to go to Chicago? There’s even a summer program!”
At first, Colin burrowed his eyebrows in confusion, and then his features relaxed into a smile. “How did you know there was a summer program?” he asked, although he looked like he knew the answer to that already.
My face heated up in embarrassment. “I…may have looked it up.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“But that’s beside the point,” I said. “You shouldn’t have given up your dream.”
“I didn’t give up my dream, Seven,” he said. “I realized…I didn’t need to go to Chicago to be an architect. Chicago was just an excuse for me to escape my father and all the pent-up anger I had for him. But now that I’m starting to forgive him, I don’t see the point of leaving home just yet.” He grinned. “Especially because you’re here.”
I stared at him in astonishment. “I can’t believe this is actually happening… You’re really staying…”
“Oh,” he said, as if he’d just remembered something, “and another confusion I need to clear up: I’m not in a relationship with anyone because I’m saving myself for this really special girl.”
I didn’t know what else to do but laugh in delight. “Got it. Anything else?”
“Yeah,” he said, green eyes twinkling. “Do you want to go out with me? And this time, I’m not asking you to pretend to be my girlfriend in front of everyone or anything stupid like that. I want to be the only one to kiss you. I want to be able to shout to the whole world that you are mine and I am yours. I want to shoot down those insecurities I read in your diary and have the chance to remind you each and every day that you are loved, that I love you.”
By then tears had formed in my eyes and were ready and just waiting to fall. I stepped closer to Colin and we were almost chest-to-chest. He sucked in his breath as he watched me.
I stood on my tiptoes and leaned forward, kissing him softly on the lips. We’d had so many other kisses—delicate ones on the cheek, kisses that were rushed and full of emotion, kisses that lingered even after we’d gone and went our own ways, but this felt new. This was like the beginning of something wonderful, and hopefully, something that would last.
He kissed me back, and I felt his hand reach up to brush my hair, but I didn’t let it go any further because I still had to say my answer. I pulled back and whispered, “Yes. Yes, Colin, I would love that. I love you.”
His smile was as bright as the sun.
The Black Notebook Page 37
