What Happenedin Paris

What Happened in Paris Kat Halstead

Copyright © 2017 Kat Halstead All rights reserved. ISBN: ISBN-13:

For my fellow Rucas fan girls. xoxo

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Beth watched her best friend packing her large suitcase for a summer abroad in Paris, well six weeks. “Don’t you want to see him this summer, talk to him; figure out whatever it is that’s lost between you two?” Caitlin stopped what she was doing and went to sit next to her friend on the window seat, “Whatever it is that’s lost between us still exist Beth. It hasn’t changed, if anything Joel and I have both changed. I don’t know if I can ever talk to him again, Beth I don’t think I can be in the same city as him this summer. Maybe he doesn’t come back, maybe he stays in California, but I can’t be here. Besides this is a dream come true. I can’t give up a summer in Paris.” “What happened between the two of you? What made it that you would want to escape to a whole other country rather than talk to him?” Beth had avoided asking this question ever since they graduated high school the year before, ever since Caitlin returned from the ceremony she and Joel had been apart. It was like they were strangers now, but it never made sense since Caitlin wouldn’t tell her why and she couldn’t think of a reason for it. Caitlin looked out the window, trying not to think about all those nights Joel had snuck in during their

relationship, the nights he would just hold her as they fell asleep, all the mornings he would sneak out before returning an hour later to walk her to school. “It doesn’t matter Beth, that’s between myself and Joel. What I can tell you is that tomorrow I leave for Paris, and I have a million things to do before then, but I want to see you, Jamie and Drew before I leave.” “You will, in fact if you come with me to the cafe right now you can see us all, say goodbye and then panic over whatever silly thing you think you’ll need for the next six weeks.” Beth sighed, realizing just how long she would be apart from her friend. Caitlin looked over at her bed; if she was honest she didn’t have that much left to do. She’d already checked into her flight on her phone, she had everything packed except for a few toiletries. “Okay, let’s got.” “Great!” Beth was already halfway out the window. “One day I think we’re going to be too old for this.” Caitlin laughed as she climbed out behind her friend before following her down the fire escape. Jamie and Drew were arguing over something when the girls came in but quickly stopped when Drew smiled at Caitlin, “Hey, there’s our world traveler.” “Hey guys, I’m glad you’re here.” She hugged each of them tightly. “Cait, you’re only going to be gone for six weeks. We’ve all been apart longer than that with school this year.” Jamie reminded her. She sighed as she sat between the two boys, “That might be, but the summer was going to be our time together, and here I am leaving.” “You don’t have to go.” Beth reminded her.

“But I still want to. You guys have adventures here I’ll have mine in Paris.” A smile came over her face, “Maybe I’ll fall in love with some incredibly sexy man, he’ll kiss me with the Eiffel tower behind us, explore the Louvre, spend a Saturday afternoon drinking coffee at an outdoor café, visit Versailles.” “Caitlin …” Drew looked to Jamie who shook his head no. “What Drew?” “What about Joel, didn’t you used to dream of doing all of that with him?” Caitlin tensed, why couldn’t her friends let this go? “What about him, he’s gone, he’s in California.” She stood up from the couch as she turned around he walked right through the door, “Or he’s right here in New York City where I will not be spending my summer.” “Caitlin …” His voice was hopeful when he saw her, but as soon as he saw her tense up he knew he was out of luck. She looked at her friends, “Guys, I’ll email you from Washington DC.” “You will?” Beth was confused for half a moment, realizing that Caitlin didn’t want Joel to know where she would be this summer. “Yeah, of course I will. I need to finish packing.” She started to move past Joel, when she felt him stop her. “Joel…” “You won’t be here this summer?” “No, internship” She tried not to look into his emerald eyes, “So you get our friends for the next six weeks.” “Here I thought I was leaving them in your care.” Joel could feel his chest tighten as he breathed in the scent of her body wash, peppermint, she was nervous. “I have summer classes I’m just in town for a few days.”

“Well, we saw each other and it’s about as awkward as it can be. I need to go Joel, please let me go.” She could feel her body shaking as her eyes fell to his lips, how many girls had he kissed this past year, how many had he slept with trying to forget about her? “Isn’t that what got us at this point, you asking me to let you go?” Sadness clouded over him as he searched her chocolate eyes for something, anything, how did she stop loving him? “Good bye Joel.” Caitlin pulled away from him before pushing her way out of the cafe. Once she was up on the street and sure no one followed her she leaned against the wall, catching her breath, her heart racing, she might have been the one to ask him to let her go, but why did she have such a difficult time erasing him from her heart, from her soul? Joel sat next to Beth, “So did Drew tell you all the good news?” “What news?” Beth looked at the boys, feeling left out. “I told Jamie, but not Beth” Drew flashed a smile her way with a wiggle of his eyebrows. “Someone tell me before I get pissed.” She warned. Joel looked to his old friend, a girl who confused the hell out of him when he was younger even now she still did. “I’m spending the next six weeks in Paris I signed up for this summer study abroad program and got in. I leave tomorrow.” Beth looked to Jamie and Drew, “Boys, how could you not tell me this. That’s terrific news Joel, amazing.” “You are way too happy.” Joel looked to the boys were looking everywhere but at him. “What don’t I know?” Beth put a hand on his knee and smile, “Joel, I’m just

really glad Caitlin wasn’t here to hear that. She’s always wanted to go to Paris it would kill her to know you get to go.” “Oh yeah, I mean she’s spending the summer in DC, interning I’m guessing for her Uncle Rich?” Joel was feeling guilty now. “Yeah exactly” Beth gave Jamie and Drew the look to follow her lead, “So um crazy question, what the hell happened between you and Caitlin?” “Beth” Jamie glared at his longtime friend, “If they ever wanted us to know why the broke up, why she won’t speak to him, they would tell us.” “Well I never asked Joel, I’ve only asked Caitlin, so I’m giving him a chance.” Beth looked to him, “So Joel, what happened, what changed?” “Caitlin and I decided to go to different schools,” he thought back to that moment, “she asked me to let her go, she begged me to let her go.” “You still love her, don’t you?” Jamie had been watching Joel’s body language the entire time, the way he seemed to be holding something back. “Yes, I do, but I guess she’s over me.” Drew laughed, “Please, that girl will never be over you. What, you all know it’s true, she puts a brave face on around all of us even that talk about walking around the river with some sexy guy, or kissing in front of monuments, it’s all show, you and I all know she was thinking of him.” “Doesn’t matter” Joel stood up, looking at his best friends, “’She’ll be in DC and I’ll be in Paris, maybe this was the last time we ever see each other.” “I doubt that Joel, come on, there are no coincidences in this world.” She couldn’t stop smiling; she just wished she could be there when they saw each other. “So what

flight are you on?” “Flight 923, I already checked in, I’m in seat 32A, a window seat.” He looked at the time, “I gotta go I promised my parents we’d have dinner tonight. It was good seeing you guys, we’ll hang out when I get back, before everyone goes back to school. I’ll skype from Paris.” “Bye Joel!” They all called in unison. Beth looked to the boys, “Caitlin is on Flight 923, seat 32B.” “And Caitlin thinks Joel is going back to California.” Jamie smiled knowingly. “While Joel thinks Caitlin is going to DC.” Drew continued, “Damn I wish we had a live feed for that.” “So do I” Beth leaned back in her seat, “What are the chances that both these fools would sign up to go to Paris this summer?” “Well Joel has been taking French since the sixth grade,” Drew reminded them, “how long has Caitlin taken it?” “Since the ninth grade” Jamie looked around, “What do you think he means by she begged me to let her go, that doesn’t sound like Caitlin, does it?” Beth sighed, “Unless she was doing it to protect herself. Afraid that being at two different schools would be too difficult. That long distance would be too much.” “You know for a couple of people that love to talk to each other, they’re terrible at saying the important stuff.” Drew leaned back in his seat. “Okay, bets on how long it takes before we get a call from one of them about their flight?” “It’s like a seven hour flight, depending on how soon they board, but it’ll be like this time tomorrow before they land.” Jamie thought for a moment, “So say another hour

or two before they’re through customs and what not and in their rooms.” “So in about twenty-six hours we’ll hear from Caitlin about how Joel is in Paris and she had to sit next to him the entire plane ride.” Beth looked at her watch, “Guys, let’s go have some fun, forget about those two because I have a feeling they’re going to forget all about us once they’re in the city of love.” Caitlin hated that she had the middle seat, but at least she got to board the plane in the first zone, giving her a chance to get her bags stowed and herself settled, last thing she needed was to trip and fall in someone’s lap or arms or worse actually hurt herself. She grabbed the novel her Uncle Nicolas had given her to read on the plane, made sure she had her headphones accessible and that her tablet was within reach. The cord for her headphones however were still in her bag she just stowed away. She quickly got up and tried to reach for the bag, she might be tall but she wasn’t tall enough. She found herself standing on a seat to pull her bag out. Of course she lost her balance and fell into someone’s arms. She held her eyes tightly shut afraid of what this would lead to, at the very least a seven our awkward plane ride. Whoever it was holding her, cleared his throat, his touch sent sparks all over her body as he placed her down. “This isn’t a flight to DC.” Caitlin opened her eyes, immediately lost in the lily pads she knew far too well. “And this isn’t a flight to California.” “True, could I get to my seat?” “Oh you have the window seat?” Caitlin tried to make

room for him to pass, but for some reason all that happened was she ended up in the window seat. Joel sat in the middle seat, “You take that I’ll take this. It’s not that big of a deal.” “Thanks” she felt like a moron, of course Joel would try to study abroad he been taking French since the sixth grade. “Thanks for catching me.” “Anytime, you’re very lucky it was me.” He looked around at the other passengers, “I mean it could’ve been that guy, or that one.” Caitlin smiled as he pointed around, “Yeah well, it would’ve been weird to have that meet cute story with someone other than you.” Joel couldn’t help but smile as he looked into her dark coffee eyes, everything inside of him wanted to just kiss her. Did she still taste of Kiwi lip gloss? “Why did you tell me you were going to DC?” Caitlin looked down at her hands, “I just didn’t want to upset you about going to Paris without you. I know you’ve always wanted to go. I was also kind of shocked to see you yesterday I wasn’t expecting that, I was kind of thrown.” Joel reached for her hand, taking it in his. Everyone always said she had a calming effect on him, but he was pretty sure it was him that calmed her down, “I never said I was going to California. I thought Drew would’ve told you.” “Nope, Drew kept that from me, or he just didn’t get to tell me a really good Joel story.” Caitlin took a deep breath, “So, we’ve got what seven plus hours on a plane together huh?” “Looks like it.” His thumb rubbed over her fingers, it scared him just how easily he’d fallen into this, holding her hand.

Caitlin tried not to look at him, but couldn’t help it even though she was terrified of getting lost in those green eyes, those same eyes she got lost in for the first time one night in the library in seventh grade. That seemed like a lifetime ago now. “Wait, who knew you were going to Paris?” Caitlin slipped her hand from his as she turned towards him. “Well I told Beth, Jamie last night, Drew knew but” Joel stopped himself, deciding to keep the second part to himself. “I told them after you left, after you said you were going to DC. They of course knew you were going to Paris.” “They knew that, they even know my flight number and seat number.” Caitlin drummed her fingers on the arm rest. Joel shook his head, “They asked me that stuff. They knew we were going to end up next to each other and it’s a seven hour flight we’ll eventually talk.” “People haven’t finished boarding and we’ve already talked.” Caitlin pulled a pack of gum from her pocket, handing a piece to Joel, “For your ears.” “Thank you.” He held the piece of cinnamon gum as a young man sat next to him as he tried to think of what he should say to Caitlin. Fate had to be putting them together again, didn’t it? They were both going to Paris, she was the only girl he wanted to explore the city with, and now he had a chance. He waited until after the safety speech, and when they started to take off he felt her hand on his, her nerves and fears getting to her. He leaned in, close enough to breathe in her Jasmine scent, “It’s okay Cait I’m here, just hold on.” Caitlin turned to him she was too close to him, close enough to kiss and God that’s all she wanted to do in this

moment get lost in his lips. She wanted to give in, to kiss him to do whatever it took to make up for the last year apart. She didn’t say anything though she didn’t kiss him she just stared at him, why had she let him go, why had he listened and let her go? Seven hours, they could avoid talking to each other about letting go, right? Seven hours they had to have enough stories to fill that time. Joel reached up, brushing the hair from her eyes, “If you love someone, let them go, if they come back to you, they’re yours. If not, they never were.” “Joel … Do you really want to do this right now?” she could feel her lips tremble. “We’ve got seven hours Caitlin let’s get it out of the way.” He felt her hand cover his, pulling it away from her face. “You let me go.” “And here I am.” He searched her eyes seeing the shadow of pain crossing over them. “You let me go.” “And here I am.” She responded, trying desperately not to cry. “Why did you have to propose on Graduation of all days?” “I want to marry you Caitlin I thought that’s what you wanted as well for us to prepare to build our lives together.” “How could we do that if you were somewhere else Joel the people you surround yourself change you.” Joel pulled away; this past year he’d wondered what she’d been afraid of, why she would be afraid of their future. “Were you afraid we would grow apart by going to separate schools in different states?” Caitlin rubbed her left ring finger, “I was afraid you would resent me if we were engaged, that being engaged to me would be holding you back.”

His heart was breaking all over again, “I could never resent you Caitlin.” “I’m sure your new girlfriend would love to know that.” “I don’t have a new girlfriend. The only girlfriend I have ever had is you.” “You didn’t move on?” she felt her heart leap with hope. “You’re not easy to move on from Caitlin.” He took a nervous breath, “You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?” She shook her head no, afraid of where this was going, but hoping for it at the same time. “So you’re single, and I’m single.” “Correct.” He watched her, he knew when a scheme was forming in her mind, “Caitlin, babe, what are you thinking?” She started chewing on the thumbnail as she sat back in her seat letting her thoughts process for a moment, “We’re going to be in Paris, together, for six weeks, correct?” “Yes, I believe we’ve established that.” “You, me, Paris, the most romantic city in the world” She couldn’t help but smile. “You want to try again?” He was hopeful he hadn’t expected her to go for this so quickly. “Six weeks, that’s what we get. We’re here, together for these six weeks, let’s take advantage of it.” Caitlin explained. She was crazy, but God he still loved her. “How does it work?” Caitlin pulled away as she let her wheels turn again, “We set certain rules before we land. We agree upon them, sort of like a mini-contract between us things that are off the table.” “Like what?” “Sex.”

Joel nodded, “I mean I’m still a virgin, so.” “Same.” She smiled, giving his hand a quick squeeze. “Um we can’t tell our friends back home that we’re together, you know how they are.” “Agreed, they would be bugging the hell out of us.” “We can’t say I love you.” She tensed herself as she said it, part of her hoping he understood. “Caitlin … you can’t be serious?” “We can’t say it, and no marriage proposals.” “Oh you think I’m crazy enough to put myself out there for that again, you turned me down in that subway and broke up with me.” He searched her eyes, “But I did mean every single word of it Caitlin.” “One more rule.” “What is it?” She released an unsteady breath, “When we land back in New York it’s over.” “Caitlin, it doesn’t have to be.” He was already desperate for more time. “We might not even make it the six weeks Joel. If we do it could be amazing, and I would rather have just six amazing weeks with you, than months of lonely nights without you, which I’m going to get anyways.” He should tell her, right now he should tell her, but the words didn’t come. “Okay, I think those rules are fair, just one more.” “What?” “We have to promise to get you that kiss in front of the Eiffel tower picture you’ve been dreaming of.” If he could only give her one thing it would be that. “Are you sure you weren’t the one dreaming of that.” She teased as she pushed her shoulder against his. “I think we both were.” His hands caught her face and he kissed her, softly, tentatively as she kissed him back.

Relief washed over him. Caitlin sat on the window seat of her bay window, looking out at New York, missing her views of Paris at night. Beth was going through the slideshow of pictures she’d put together for her friends to view. Her mind was on everything that happened in Paris, all the times he held her hand walking along the Seine, when they went to the Louvre, or the day they spent at Versailles, the nights they just explored and walked around, when he kissed her in front of the Eiffel tower, the Arc de Triomphe. Her heart would speed up at just the thought of him. “Oh my God are you kissing Joel in this picture?” Beth couldn’t take her eyes off the picture of Caitlin in Joel’s arms with the Eiffel tower behind them. Caitlin was snapped out of her memories as she raced over to her friend, “I, um, it was just for the picture.” “Did you feel something when he kissed you?” Caitlin sat on the bed looking at the picture, “It was like a summer rain, followed by fireworks. It was um just a couple of days ago. This was the last touristy thing we did before we had finals and came back.” “Do you love him?” Beth tried to read Caitlin but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Caitlin rose, moving back to the bay window, “When have I not?” “Then why aren’t you together Caitlin?” “Because he and I agreed that we’re not together, if Joel and I are meant to be Beth, we’re going to be together, it’s just not the right time now.” She tried to wave it off, hoping Beth would believe her for the time being. Beth rolled her eyes, “You always make this so difficult,

you two love each other, be together.” “We do not make it difficult.” “Yeah, you do.” Beth continued through the slideshow, “Who are these people always with you two?” “Oh Maddie and Henry our roommates, they kind of got together day one.” Caitlin looked at her new friends, smiling to herself. “What’s their deal?” “Um, well Maddie is from Miami and Henry is from North Dakota, they sat next to each other on the plane and clicked. By the time we landed in Paris they were head over heels for each other.” Caitlin explained, “So much so that, they basically lived together in Henry and Joel’s room.” “Where did Joel live?” Beth wiggled her eyebrows, “Where did Joel sleep?” Caitlin looked towards her closed bedroom door, “The other bed in my room.” Beth smiled, “You’re telling me, that all summer you guys basically shared a room and you only kissed once in front of the Eiffel tower?” “Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.” Caitlin picked her laptop up and put it on the desk, “When do we need to be at Jamie’s?” “An hour and a half why?” “I’m going to go shower, the jet lag has me feeling gross you going to hang here?” “Yeah, I’ll even pick out a hot outfit for you Paris girl, got to get you back to your New York look.” Caitlin looked at her clothes, “What’s wrong with my look, it didn’t change did it?” “I’m teasing, go shower.” Beth watched as Caitlin grabbed her things and left for the bathroom. As soon as she knew the coast was clear she dialed Jamie, “They

kissed.” “I know I saw the picture from Versailles.” “Wait, you mean the Eiffel tower, don’t you?” “No, I mean Versailles.” Jamie laughed, “Wait, we saw different kisses then. Did she tell you it only happened once?” “Yeah, she did.” Beth sat at Caitlin’s desk, the laptop still awake, “oh, I just found something, Jolin in Paris, could she be cheesier?” “It’s Caitlin and we love her but probably.” Beth’s eyes went wide as she went through the pictures hundreds of Caitlin and Joel together, holding hands, holding each other, kissing, dancing, walking, taken all over Paris. “Holy shit” “What did you find?” “Those liars” Beth shook her head, “Crap, she’s in the shower, I’m going to email you a couple of these pictures and you tell me what you see.” “Okay, but do it fast.” Beth moved quickly, sending Jamie several different ones. “You should get those soon. Is Joel going to be at your place tonight?” “Yeah he is he said he doesn’t have to get back to California right now, so he’s going to spend some time in the city.” “Don’t say anything to Drew until I get there, actually don’t mention this to Drew at all he has no poker face over this stuff.” Beth exited the file before going to sit on the window seat. Why would Caitlin lie, what was Caitlin hiding and who was she hiding it from exactly? Caitlin followed Beth out of the elevator and down the

hall, “So his Dad just bought him a new apartment, but why?” “Let Jamie tell you himself.” Beth opened the door. “Ladies” Jamie’s voice sang. “Jamie” The replied in unison, even after all this time. Jamie gave Caitlin a tight hug, “So, what do you think of my new apartment.” “It’s amazing, but why, you only spend summers and holidays in New York now.” “I did, last year, but I decided to transfer to Columbia.” He shrugged as he led them through the apartment, which was of course larger than the one Caitlin grew up in and Beth’s combined. “Yay, I won’t be the only one in New York anymore.” “Um, excuse me, rude, I’ve been in New York the entire time.” Drew came out from the balcony, a glass of wine in his hand. “Besides you Drew, you never hang out with me. You’re always with those dance friends of yours.” Caitlin batted her eyes at him playfully, “Where’d you get the wine.” “Right here” Joel appeared at the balcony door, holding a bottle of her favorite Sauvignon Blanc, “I thought since this might be the last night were all together for a while we should share a drink.” Caitlin smiled to him, “I had the same idea.” She pulled out a bottle of his favorite Bordeaux from her bag. “Well let me open that so it can breathe.” He took the bottle from her and went into the kitchen. Caitlin was behind him, “Thank you.” She could feel her friends watching them, “They’re being weird, right?” “When aren’t they?” Joel worked to remove the foil from the bottle and looked out, “Okay they are. What did you say to Beth?” “Nothing, she just looked at the pictures from Paris”

Caitlin bit her lip, “I might have mentioned you and I basically shared a room.” “Oh we shared a room, is that you would call that.” He was close to her, dangerously close, so close he could kiss her, pin her body against the kitchen counter and have his way with her close. “Joel, not right now” She ducked away from him, “So Jamie is transferring to Columbia, crazy huh?” “Not that crazy.” He smiled to her. “Just because you dream of going to a certain school doesn’t mean that it’s where you should go, where you’ll be happy.” “You would know, wouldn’t you?” She watched as he poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. “Yeah, like I always dreamed of going to the University of California, and I did, but I wasn’t happy there.” Joel yearned to touch her, “I was miserable Caitlin, I hated it there.” She suddenly felt her heart racing like a horse about to win the Kentucky derby. “Joel…” “We can talk later I fear they’re scheming without one of us in the room.” “Go, I need a moment.” Caitlin watched as he moved into the living room pouring a glass of wine for Beth and then one for himself. “So, I saw some amazing pictures Caitlin had from Paris.” Beth took a small sip of her wine, it wasn’t really her thing but Joel and Caitlin seemed to have developed a taste for it, she could give it a try. “Oh yeah, Caitlin took great pictures.” “Actually,” Beth looked to Jamie and Drew, “I think maybe one of your friends must’ve taken this one. The two of you were kissing.” Joel had picked the wrong moment to take a sip of wine as he started to choke and cough, “Oh that one, from

Versailles.” “Eiffel tower actually.” Beth smiled. Caitlin had come out just in time for that, “Versailles?” Joel looked to her, “Eiffel tower?” “Okay, we kissed twice in Paris, happy?” Caitlin looked to her friends who still had that scheming look on their faces, “What?” “Jolin in Paris” was all Beth had to say for Caitlin to know she found all the pictures, every single one of them. “I really like this one.” Drew took Jamie’s phone and scrolled to a picture of Caitlin and Joel laying on her bed, their bodies entwined, she was going to have to kill Henry for taking that one, but it was also one of her favorites. Joel came over to her, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her close to his side, “I think we should tell them about Paris, we broke all the other rules, might as well break the last one.” “Rules, what rules?” Jamie looked at them, “You made rules for your time together didn’t you?” “Yes, we did.” Caitlin stood up as straight as she could while still leaning into Joel’ body, “When we were on our flight to Paris, we started talking, and given the circumstances as we saw them at the time, we agreed those six weeks together was better than nothing. But we set a few ground rules to follow.” “We couldn’t say I love you” Joel started. “We couldn’t propose to the other.” Caitlin continued. “It would end the moment we were back here.” “We couldn’t tell you guys what was going on.” Joel and Caitlin looked at each other for a moment, “And no sex.” Drew looked to Jamie, “What rule was the last for them to break?”

Beth slapped Drew’s arm three times quickly, “Telling us.” The three friends exchanged quick glances and then looked at each other, “Wait,” Beth started and Jamie continued, “You had to make a rule not to propose?” “I think we need to sit down, and the two of you need to explain what happened in Paris.” Drew suggested, his mind still going over the rules, “And start from when you got to Paris.” “Wow, suitemates, wasn’t expecting that.” Caitlin could feel her dorm keys in her hand as she held them tightly as Joel and she went up the stairs. “Me either, but hey your Dad isn’t here to freak out. He isn’t in Paris right?” “If he is, I don’t know about it.” Caitlin gave him a smile as they stopped in front of their door. “It might be a little odd living together, right?” “We’ll be in separate rooms, so it won’t be like we’re in the same room, sharing a bed.” He reminded her as he opened the door. One of the bedroom doors was closed, the other wide open. “Looks like at least one roommate is checked in already” “Yeah, I wonder if it’s” He looked at the paper they’d given them downstairs, “Henry or Madeline.” “Go knock on that door and find out.” Caitlin pushed him playfully. Joel rolled his eyes but he knocked, and a moment later a young man with brown hair, glasses, and already half undressed answered, with a redheaded girl behind him, equally as dressed. “Hey you must be Joel.” “Yeah, are you Henry?”

“Yeah, and this is Maddie, we’re your suitemates.” “This is Caitlin, our other suitemate.” Joel looked over to her, as she looked equally shocked. Henry looked to Maddie, “Give us just a minute and we’ll be out.” “They’re a couple?” Caitlin asked after the door was shut. Joel shrugged, “Maybe that seems fast right?” “I don’t know I’ve never moved fast.” Joel gave her a smile, “We make our own rules Caitlin we do what we do.” She wrapped her arms around him, feeling his kiss on the top of her head. It was amazing that they were so similar in height she could remember when he towered over her. “See, I told you they’re a couple.” Maddie’s voice cut through the silence. Caitlin and Joel pulled away from each other, “Old friends.” Caitlin felt a chill as she spoke. “So, um,” Joel looked to the new roommates, “Whose room is that?” Henry and Maddie glanced at each other, “Well, we were thinking, and it’s cool if you guys aren’t down for this.” Henry began to ramble. Maddie took his hand, “We were thinking if you two are okay with it, that Henry and I would take this room. You guys could have the other. We’re all adults, and it’s not like they specifically assigned us to a room within the suite. I mean we all have our own beds.” “So you two want to share a room, and you think we should share a room?” Joel was sure he could feel the panic from Caitlin, or maybe it was just his own. “That’s fine.” Caitlin’s words shocked him. “It is?”

“Separate beds silly.” Caitlin was trying to be cool, adult about this, but part of her was a bit terrified of sleeping in the same room as Joel. But they had the rules, it would be okay. “Then yeah, whatever works best then.” Joel agreed, still stunned by Caitlin. “Great, um, we’ll see you in the morning.” Henry beamed before lifting Maddie up from behind and carrying her into the bedroom. Caitlin and Joel were left in the common room, “So, let’s pick our beds.” She suggested before going into the other bedroom. He closed the door behind them, “Cait, are you sure you’re okay with this?” She put her bags down on the bed at the far side of the room, “It’s a little weird, but I have a feeling one of us would get kicked out of their room anyways. They’ll probably be like rabbits; that was how my roommate was in the fall when she started dating a guy from our building.” Joel nodded, “True, mine was the same way, except he was always in his girlfriend’s room so I got the room to myself a lot of the time.” Caitlin watched as he put his bags down on the bed. “This is going to be a little weird, won’t it?” “Yeah, probably, and as soon as we get used to it, we’ll be on our way back to America.” “That’s six weeks away.” Caitlin began to unpack her things, “Hey Joel, are you happy at school in California?” “No.” He looked over to her, “Are you happy in New York?” “It’s weird, I always thought Beth and I would go to the same school, but she’s in Philadelphia, Jamie is up at MIT, Drew and I never see each other.”

Joel was searching for the right words to ask what he wanted to know, needed to know. “It was missing you that hurt the most.” She confessed before looking away. Before Caitlin could even think she felt herself twirled around and in his arms, his lips crashing on hers. Her body pressed against his as her arms flung around his neck. “What was that for?” She was breathless as she spoke. “Because I needed to kiss you, for knowing what I wanted to ask when I couldn’t put the words together, for being the most beautiful girl in Paris.” He could get lost in her brown eyes forever he knew that, he also knew he would slip up sooner or later and break one of the rules. “Why aren’t you happy in California?” “It’s not home, you’re not there.” He kissed her forehead, “I should tell you something.” “What?” “I’m not going back to California after this. I’m transferring to NYU in the fall.” Caitlin pulled away from him, “You’re what?” “I’m going to be in New York Caitlin.” She sat on the bed, trying to control her breathing, “You’re coming home?” “Yeah” He crouched down in front of her, “we can talk about all of that later when you’re ready sweetheart. We have six weeks in Paris together we can discuss how we feel about our future after that.” Caitlin nodded, still stunned shocked to know that he would be in New York after this. “Should I have kept this a secret? I figured Drew’s going to spill it eventually, he probably already told Jamie and Beth by now.” His fingers fell to her chin, pointing her face up to his, “Focus on you and me, here and now.

We’re two young people in Paris we’re going to have the time of our lives.” Caitlin wiped her eyes, “I’m just shocked I just figured California was where you wanted to be.” “Same program in New York, better program in New York, plus other possibilities” He confessed, “But we discuss those on our next flight if you want, not till then.” She nodded still stunned, “Um, we need to unpack and maybe try to sleep.” “Good thinking.” “You guys shared a bedroom in Paris?” Jamie looked to his friends, “Does Hambone know? Can I be there when you tell him?” “Yeah, the look of pure fear in Joel’s eyes is right at riding Bullseye levels.” Drew chimed in. Caitlin and Joel rolled their eyes as they looked to their friends, “Do you want to know more, or should we leave it at that.” “I need details, lots of details.” Beth reminded, “I’m seriously confused by what’s going on.” Joel poured Caitlin another glass of wine before pouring one for him “You just have to let us tell the story.” “Fine, go on.” Drew leaned back in his seat, just as Beth leaned into him. “So a week in Paris down,” Joel held Caitlin’s hand as they walked around the left bank. “Only five more to go” Her voice was sad, “I’m really enjoying our time together, plus our classes of course.” “And you don’t mind at all waking up to me across the bedroom without a shirt on?” He teased pulling her close to him.

Caitlin crinkled her face, “You’re shirtless in the mornings, I never noticed.” “Oh really?” his lips planted quick kisses on her neck, “what have you noticed in the morning?” “You talk in your sleep a little bit.” She giggled, throwing her arms around him, “Well more like mumble nonsense.” “I do not.” “You do, I’ll record you if you don’t believe me, but it’s adorable.” She bit her lip, fighting back the statement she knew was about to slip out. “What do you notice in the morning?” She allowed herself to ask. “Your hair is always this beautiful mess I’m amazed you can get your brush through it.” He looked into her eyes, “and you do this stretch each day, I don’t think you realize it, as you get out of bed. You bounce a bit on your toes as you reach up and yawn. I love it.” Caitlin sucked in her breath, “Careful Moore, you don’t want to slip up on our rules.” Joel sighed, “I hate the rules.” “Oh come on, they’re not all bad. It’s kind of nice not telling everyone back home.” “That is one rule I approve of.” He kissed her, his fingers tangling in her hair. Caitlin was sure her foot would pop like in an old movie if he kept kissing her this way and it did. “They are so sickeningly in love.” Maddie said from behind her camera after snapping a picture of the two. Caitlin pulled away from Joel, hiding her head against his chest just as Maddie snapped another picture, “Do you have to do that?” “Yup, you’ll thank me for this someday, just like I’ll thank you fellow photog for all the pictures you’ve snapped of me and Henry.”

Caitlin giggled as she looked to her suitemates, “Okay point taken.” “So, what are you two planning to do the rest of the evening?” Joel asked the other couple. “We’re going to check out this club we heard about, want to come? It doesn’t really start until ten.” “It starts at ten?” Caitlin gasped, why did things start at ten, she would never understand that. Joel tried not to laugh, “I think we might enjoy a quiet evening at home then, maybe pick up a bottle of wine, some cheese.” “You two are so lame, are you sure you’re from New York?” Maddie whined. “Yeah, probably why clubs don’t excite us” Caitlin shrugged. “You’re like an old lady.” “She gets that from her father.” Joel wrapped his arms around Caitlin from behind, “You guys have fun clubbing it up. We’ll have fun at home.” Henry got a smile on his face, “Yeah, Maddie, let them have a quiet evening at home.” It was like Maddie got some secret message all of a sudden, “Oh, yeah, sure, um we’ll see you in the morning before we all go to The Louvre.” “Yeah, night guys” Caitlin watched as their suitemates left, “Joel, you know sex is off the table.” “I know that, and you know that.” He whispered into her ear, “I also know that implying that’s what you and I would be doing, was the only way to keep Maddie from insisting we’re boring.” “I don’t think anyone would call us boring, would they?” “Not anyone that really knows us.” He kissed her neck again, “Besides, we do what we do, they do what they do.”

Caitlin could feel the electric chills shoot through her body whenever he did that. “True, so let’s get some wine, some bread, and go home to our room.” He released her before taking her hand as they began to walk again, “You know, we’re taking the exact same classes, I know why I’m taking them, but why are you?” “Well,” she looked out at the river, “I um, kind of need these classes for my minor.” “Wait did you declare a major and a minor?” He stopped walking, stunned; she’d never had a clear idea of what she wanted to do. He just figured she would explore it freshmen and sophomore year. She nodded, “Yeah, these classes we’re taking go towards my minor however. My major is Poli-Sci, with a minor in literature. Why are you taking these?” “Pre-Med major, literature minor” he smiled, “What are you planning to do with Poli-Sci?” “I spent part of the first semester interning at the Crandall foundation, and then second semester at the Klein foundation.” She explained, “Both non-profits, trying to help people in this world, but you in a way need to know how it all works together. I haven’t actually taken any Poli-Sci class yet, I might change my mind I still have time.” “You will be amazing at anything you decide to do.” He pushed the windblown hair form her eyes. “Why are you so sure of that?” she studied him trying to understand his confidence. Joel took a moment, “I’m not allowed to say, it’s against the rules.” She felt her heart speed up; they would break the rules, all of them, wouldn’t they? “We should go get that wine.” “Yeah, let’s go.”

Caitlin’s eyes flew open as she gasped for air, “Joel, Joel!” Groggy, mostly asleep he raced across the room, “Cait, what’s wrong honey?” She was clutching her chest, moonlight washing over the room as she looked at him, “I had a terrible dream.” He sat on her bed as she threw her arms around him, “What happened, what was so terrible?” “I lost you.” She confessed, burring her face in his neck, “I was on the subway back in New York, I saw you and you ignored me, and doors closed in my face, it was awful.” “You are never going to lose me Caitlin.” He felt like he’d been kicked in the stomach, “I wish I could tell you why, but you know, in your heart you know.” Caitlin pulled away from him, “Rationally I know, emotionally I know, but subconsciously I’m still that insecure girl.” Joel caressed her face, his thumb wiping away her stray tears, “Caitlin, I meant every word I said when I proposed to you last year, I still mean it” he bit his lip to keep from breaking these silly rules, “One day, I’ll get to say them again, and I will mean them even more.” Caitlin kissed him, hard and deep to keep him from saying anything else, “I know Joel, I know.” She finally breathed. “Get back to sleep.” “Lay with me.” He nodded as she moved over in the bed, that they barely fit in as he pulled her close to him, falling asleep with her in his arms the way they did in high school occasionally when he would sneak into her room at night

to talk. When Caitlin woke up, she looked at Joel as he still slept. They only had a week left in Paris, part of her felt as though the rules they’d come up with, well she’d come up with were denying them of everything they could have. But she couldn’t break them now, five weeks and they’d been so strong, one more week of the rules and then they would be free, but what would they be? “I still don’t get it.” Maddie had been listening to Caitlin explain the rules as they enjoyed coffee at an outdoor café. “Okay, so you know Joel and I are together now, but before we ended up next to each other on the flight we’d been apart for year.” “Why did you break up?” Maddie couldn’t help but find this fascinating. “I got scared when he proposed, it was right after graduation.” Caitlin smiled, “we were on the same subway line where we met sitting in sort of the same seat that I first fell into his lap. It was beautiful, it was perfect, and all I could think was that I don’t want him to feel obligated to be with me forever. I begged him to let me go, if he came back to me and I him, then we were meant to be.” Maddie shook her head as she took a sip of her café au lait, “Has anyone ever told you that you two are exhausting?” “Beth and Drew say it all the time.” Caitlin smiled, “So we set these stupid rules I came up with for while we’re here. Before we knew we were suitemates, before you and Henry took one room for yourself. Every single day, I

almost tell him I love him like thirty times.” “Then tell him, forget these rules. You’re both going to NYU when you get back, what’s holding you to these six weeks?” Maddie looked around at the people walking by. “I know he was in California, and I get how scary long distance is, hell Henry and I are going to give it a try, but I am terrified.” Caitlin sighed, “If it helps I think the two of you would make it.” “You and Joel will as well.” Maddie leaned over the table, “Tell him, forget the rules, kiss him and tell him you love him hell have sex with him already I know you want to. What are you two waiting for?” Caitlin looked at her hands, “We almost did it a few times in high school, it just wasn’t right. I don’t think we ever agreed we were waiting for anything specific like an engagement or marriage, just the right moment.” Maddie saw a dreamy look cross over Caitlin’s face, “What’s with that look?” “In the seventh grade I liked him, he liked me, but we were just friends. He was Romeo, I was Juliet, and when it came time for the kiss Jamie took over the show and stole it.” Caitlin smiled at the memory, “A few days later I was on the set, Joel came in, reciting his lines and for just half a second I thought he might kiss me. Instead he said he couldn’t believe Jamie had stolen his moment, and then he told me his moment would be his moment when it happened.” “You guys are sickeningly sweet, you realize this, right?” Maddie raised her perfectly arched eyebrow. “That would be my parents, trust me. Joel and I are far more normal.” “So, when was his moment, tell me about it.” “We were on a ski trip in high school,” she got a chill at

the memory, “He was trying to teach me how to ski, and he actually knocked me over instead of the other way around since I was a super klutz.” “Go on.” Maddie watched her friend lost in the memory. “We helped each other up, and I lost my balance, falling into his arms. It was snowing just barely, and I remember looking into his eyes as he held me and we were kissing.” “That is a great first kiss.” Maddie sighed. “That wasn’t our first kiss.” Caitlin took a sip of her coffee. Maddie reached over, her hand on Caitlin’s arm, “When was your first kiss?” “Our first date in the seventh grade, I kissed him on the subway.” “Caitlin Edwards, who knew you, were so aggressive.” “I’m not always, not when I over think it.” “Which is what you’re doing now” Maddie looked around, “You want to be with Joel right?” “More than anything” She confessed feeling her heart flutter at the thought. “And he wants to be with you, don’t even deny it. You see it, I know you see it.” “So what, I just say Joel let’s do this, you and me?” “Yeah, maybe not exactly like that, but tell him how you feel. Forget your rules and take a leap of faith with him.” Caitlin sighed, “I’ll think about it.” “Don’t think; that’s what gets you into trouble.” “It scares me how well you know me, especially considering how much time you and Henry spend in your room alone.” Maddie shrugged with a smirk, “You know me just as well.

Joel was alone in the suite, staring at the ring he kept on his keychain. It was the ring he’d used to propose to Caitlin, it was meant to sit on her finger and nowhere else. He’d found it at a shop a few weeks before graduation, he hadn’t been looking for it, but it found him. It was gold, with a small cameo instead of a stone. Something about it just reminded him of Caitlin. Three days left in Paris, he had almost told her he loved her more times than he could count. The words marry me were close to slipping from his lips almost every day, he kissed her a few times to hold it in. “Hey, get dressed we’re going out to dinner.” Caitlin came in the room a bundle of energy as she moved about. “We are?” “Yeah, please just put on some nice slacks and a nice shirt, I promise it will be worth it.” She flashed him a smile and batted her eyelashes the way she knew always got him to do what she wanted. “Of course, when are we leaving?” Caitlin glanced at her watch, “Half an hour, I have an interesting night planned for us.” “Oh you do huh?” “Yeah, I do, now hurry, please.” He kissed her feeling her melt against him, he could hear her sigh as he pulled away, “I’ll be ready soon.” Caitlin watched as he left the room, she quickly changed into the clothes she’d purchased while out with Maddie and then put on her favorite lilac dress that she had been saving for a special occasion. Tonight was going to be that occasion, as she pulled her hair up and touched up her make up.

Joel came back in the room, his breath hitching in his chest when he saw her, “You look amazing.” She looked to him with a smile as she saw him in her favorite purple button down and slacks. “So do you.” “Well, where are we going?” “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” She kissed him quickly before sliding her hand in his, “Tonight is going to be special we only have a little time left.” Joel sighed, kissing her forehead, biting back the words he was so desperate to say. Caitlin grabbed her purse and started leading him to the door, “Trust me Joel, this will be a night we’ll never forget.” Joel put his hand in his pocket around his keys, “Yes, I’m sure it will.” After dinner at a hidden little restaurant that Caitlin had discovered a few weeks ago when out with Maddie, they were finishing their wine when Caitlin looked up at him, the low candle light creating a romantic glow around them. “So, what did you think?” Joel reached across the table, his hand over hers, his thumb dancing over the back of her hand. “This was an amazing meal, with amazing company.” “I’m glad” she took the final sip of her wine “We only have a few days left before we go back.” “Yes, that is true.” Joel felt his heart twist, “Caitlin, about that…” “Let’s continue this outside” Caitlin paid the bill, “I think we should enjoy this talk outside.” “Of course” he followed her out to the street, trying to figure out what she was up to. She took his hands as they moved towards the river,

“I’ve been thinking, a lot, because that’s what I do and I usually make the wrong decision, but I don’t think I am this time.” “Caitlin, what’s going on?” He watched her smile as she looked around and gave a small nod to the distance. “Joel Moore, I’m breaking the rules.” She moved in closer to him, “I made those rules out of fear. A fear of my own insecurities, and right now, I know that if I don’t say it, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” “Caitlin, seriously, what’s going on?” “I love you. I have loved you for so long, and yes I’ve said it before, hundreds, thousands of times, but the truth is I love you more now than I did before and every day I’m going to grow to love you, even if we’re apart, but I don’t want us to be apart.” Joel kissed her before she could continue talking, feeling a rush of energy as he did so before breaking it, her face in his hands as he looked into those chocolate eyes, “I love you Caitlin, God that feels so good to say. I love you always.” “Oh God, could you two be any cheesier?” Beth rolled her eyes even though she was smiling. “So you guys are back together now, since you broke your own rules. Wasn’t one of them that you broke up once you landed” Jamie stared at them, the way Joel’s arms were wrapped around Caitlin as she sat in front of him. “We decided that we’ve overcome so much already, that no matter what happens we plan to be together forever.” Caitlin smiled as she leaned into Joel. Beth stood up, “Okay, is anyone else sickened by these lovesick fools?”

Drew was up with Beth, “I am you want to split a cab Beth?” “Yeah, that sounds great.” Jamie watched them shaking his head as the pair quickly left. “They’re not fooling anyone.” “When did that start?” Joel questioned as he and Caitlin helped their friend clean up from the gathering. “Fourth of July, I think, at least that’s when they got obvious.” He looked at the two of them, “Beth and Drew might have let this drop, but who proposed?” Caitlin looked to Joel and pulled out five dollars, “What, I thought Beth would ask.” “Thanks buddy.” Joel smiled as he slipped the cash into his back pocket, “I guess we can tell him that part, if he promises to not tell the others just yet.” “Of course, obviously you two stopped the story for a reason, but I’m a genius so go on.” “Joel …” She started as she watched him drop to one knee. “Caitlin Edwards, you will always have my heart, you will always be a part of my soul, you are the ying to my yang, please baby, answer with your heart, will you marry me?” He had the ring in his fingers as he held her hand. “Yes, Joel, yes, a million times yes.” Her hand was shaking as he slipped the ring on her finger. “Thank God you said yes.” He breathed as he looked up at her. “Of course I said yes, I was going to ask you.” She confessed as he stood up, his arms wrapping around her before he kissed her again. “You were?” “Family tradition, Mom proposed to Dad in the middle of

their high school graduation.” She reminded him. Joel nodded, “Oh right, sorry, did I steal your moment?” “No, that was your moment.” Her fingers danced at the back of his head, “And if we’re lucky, Maddie caught a picture of it.” Joel looked around, and he saw the redhead wave with her camera. “Oh you’re good.” “I wanted to capture whatever happened.” She held on to him dizzy with joy “Um one more thing.” “What?” He studied her, wondering what else she had planned. She looked at the buttons of his shirt, “I um, asked Maddie if she and Henry would push our beds together before we got home. We don’t have to … you know, we can just fall asleep in each other’s arms I just don’t want to be across the room from you anymore than I have to.” “I love you know that, whatever else happens tonight will just be an extension of it.” “Thank God we both came to Paris this summer.” She couldn’t believe the surge of joy swelling in her heart. “We never have to be apart again, remember I’m starting at NYU in a few weeks.” He told her as they started to walk towards their friends. “I know.” Caitlin held his hand in her. “You guys I got the best pictures for you.” Maddie was beaming as she pulled them up on her screen. “Those are stunning did it really look like this?” Caitlin studied the picture, “Wow, why aren’t you pursuing this Maddie?” “It’s a hobby, just like you, I have other passions.” Maddie smiled, “But it’s good to know I have this to fall back on.” “You know what we need?” Henry popped into the conversation.

“What’s that pal?” “Champagne to toast the newly engaged couple.” “Good thing we’re in France, I think we might be able to find some.” Maddie teased her boyfriend. “Then let us find some.” Jamie crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at the pair, “So when’s the wedding?” Caitlin and Joel smiled, “We haven’t decided yet, but you will be one of the first to know.” Caitlin hugged her friend, “Jamie, thank you for always believing in me, in Joel, in us.” “Always Caitlin, always.” “We should get going, we’ll talk tomorrow Jamie.” Joel hugged his friend and pulled his fiancé out of the apartment with him. “So, walk me home?” “I would love nothing more than that my sweet.” Joel took her hand as they went to the elevator, “So, you still think surprising everyone is the best idea?” “Yes, I do.” The elevator doors opened revealing Beth and Drew kissing, having forgotten the rest of the world. “Um guys, this is public elevator.” Joel’s voice startled them and they jumped apart as though they’d been caught doing something criminal. Caitlin followed him onto the elevator, studying her friends for a while, “So, how long did you think you could keep this from us?” Beth looked to Drew who sighed, “Honey Nugget, we should tell them, it’s been long enough.” “Honey Nugget” Caitlin and Joel questioned at once. Beth shot them a dirty look and took Drew’s hand,

“We’ve had an unofficial thing going for a while now.” “How long Beth?” Caitlin stared her friend down. “Two years, three months and six days.” Drew announced proudly. Everyone stared at him for a moment and then at Beth, “Wow, I never would’ve guessed. Jamie just figured since the Fourth of July.” “We don’t have a label for this.” Beth explained, “But we enjoy our time together.” “We saw.” Joel chuckled as he elevator hit the lobby, “Good night, I need to get Caitlin home, don’t want to make Mr. Edwards furious.” Caitlin was speechless for a few minutes as they walked around New York, “Over two years and we didn’t know?” “They spent a lot of the past year apart going to different schools.” Joel reminded her as they went down to the subway. “True.” They got onto the train a moment later, Joel pulling her onto his lap, even though there were plenty of other seats. “I found an apartment today for us, it’s small, but we should be able to afford it.” “Really, that’s great, when can we move in?” “Next Wednesday, so we might have to spend a few nights apart after Friday.” “No, we are not. If my parents don’t let us stay in my old room or your parents don’t let us stay in yours we’ll figure something out. Jamie, I bet he has a spare room we could use if we have to.” Caitlin breathed in his scent, “I don’t even want to spend tonight apart from you.” “So I should sneak in like in high school?” “No” Caitlin shook her head, “We are going to walk through the front door, and just go to my room. If my Dad

flips out, we tell him we’re engaged, and if he still flips out, we tell him how we got our marriage license already, how we plan on getting married on Friday, in three days.” “Well then, let’s give it a try and see what happens.” He was a bit terrified, but her father had to know how much he loved Caitlin by now, right? When they got off the train they walked a little slowly to her parents apartment, “I don’t think I’ve been this nervous since we tried dating in the eighth grade and we got all stiff and weird.” “Me either.” Caitlin looked at the door of the apartment she’d grown up in, “Just be cool, we can do that right?” Joel smiled, “Sure sweetheart, sure.” She opened the door, her parents Conner and Sandra were at the kitchen table as they came in they didn’t look up at first. “Hey Caitlin” Her father waved and then as though he could sense something was off he looked up, “Oh Joel, long time no see.” “Good evening Sir.” Suddenly he and Caitlin were almost an arm’s length apart while still holding hands. Sandra looked up, “Oh God, what is this?” Caitlin looked to Joel and then to her parents, “We were just going to my room.” Connor shot up, “Excuse me?” “Dad,” Caitlin dropped Joel’s hand, “Joel and I are going to my room, what’s the big deal? He and I shared a room all summer long.” “You shared a room!” Sandra was the one who yelled stunning them all. “We didn’t plan it Mrs. Edwards.” Joel had survived Bullseye the bull, he’d lived to tell the tale of Connie the sheep, but if he could survive Sandra Edwards right now, he realized he would truly be a folk hero.

“One of you better tell me what the hell is going on and tell me now.” Sandra had a fire in her eyes, the kind of fire Connor feared as he hung back. Caitlin took a deep breath, “We roomed with a couple in Paris they got together like the first day and kind of took over one of the bedrooms. Joel and I slept in the same room all summer, in separate beds.” Sandra studied her daughter, “Go on.” “Mom, you know I love you, I respect you, and I wouldn’t just bring Joel over for a hook up.” “It’s happening Sandra, this time it’s real.” Connor clutched his chest dramatically. “Connor stop it.” Sandra looked to Joel, “Are you still in love with my daughter?” “Yes I am.” He could survive this this was the ultimate test, wasn’t it? “Have the two of you had sex?” Sandra studied them, seeing the answer on their faces. “When’s the wedding?” “Sandra, don’t joke about that.” Connor looked to his wife and then to the couple, “Oh God, they’re engaged aren’t they?” “Friday Mrs. Edwards, Caitlin and I plan on getting married Friday evening on the roof of this building.” Joel blurted out. “Joel” Caitlin shook her head. “We were going to surprise everyone when we had them up there.” “You’re really doing this?” Sandra looked at her daughter, softening, before looking to Joel, “How are you two planning to make this work if you’re in school in California.” Joel realized it was okay to breathe, at least for a moment, “I’m starting at NYU in a few weeks when the new semester starts. I realized California wasn’t where I wanted to be, especially without Caitlin.”

“Are the two of you sure about this? You’re awfully young.” Connor reminded them. Caitlin smiled as she went and grabbed her parent’s wedding picture, “And how old were the two of you?” “How long have you been engaged?” Sandra looked to them. “About four days.” Caitlin held out her hand for her mother, “He got me this amazing ring.” Sandra studied the cameo ring and looked to Joel, “So the two of you have been engaged for four days, and you want to get married in three?” “I know it seems fast Mrs. Edwards,” Joel sat at the table across from his future in-laws, “But we love each other, we always have, and we don’t see the point in waiting to start the next part of our lives together. We spent our whole flight home discussing everything we could think of. I found an apartment today, but if you and Mr. Edwards want to check it out first before we sign a lease, we’re okay with that.” “Who else knows you’re engaged.” “Maddie, Henry, and Jamie” Caitlin sat next to Joel, taking his hand in hers. “Who are Maddie and Henry?” Connor was confused by the new names. “Our suitemates from Paris” Caitlin pulled her phone out and showed her parents the picture of Joel proposing, “Maddie took this.” “She knew Joel was going to ask?” “Actually, I was planning to ask him, but he got to it first.” Caitlin squeezed his hand, “We’ve already got jobs lined up, we know it won’t be easy balancing school, work, and us, but we really believe we’re up for the challenge.” “Why does Jamie know, but Beth and Drew don’t?”

“They didn’t pick up the clues as well as Jamie did when we were telling them about our time in Paris.” Caitlin explained. “I’ve already emailed, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Nicolas, Aunt Megan, Uncle Rich, Papa Joe, Gloria and Kevin about coming to a party Friday night on the roof.” “You’re really going to just surprise everyone with a wedding?” Sandra was a little hurt that her daughter was leaving her out of the planning. “We want it to be simple we don’t want it to be anything that goes overboard.” Caitlin explained, “We know this is a major surprise to you both.” Sandra looked to Connor, “Not that surprising really.” “It’s not?” Joel looked to them. Connor laughed, “Please, we’ve known this would happen since you met. I knew the story.” “Is that why you always chased me out of her room?” “Yeah, it’s why you got chased out and Jamie and Drew didn’t.” Connor looked to the couple, “Go get some sleep, tomorrow we’ll go check out that apartment and see if I approve. Otherwise we’ll find you something better.” “Thanks Dad.” Caitlin popped up, taking Joel’s hand. “And I do mean sleep, as long as you’re in our apartment, and not married, you can sleep in the same bed.” Connor sighed. “Thank you Mr. Edwards” Joel felt the stress wash away from his body. Connor looked to Sandra who nodded, “Call me Dad.” “Okay Dad.” “And you can call me Mom.” Sandra gave them both a hug, “Caitlin, can I at least take you to buy a dress tomorrow?” “Yeah, you can. I was going to try and sneak that in, wasn’t sure how.”

“You don’t have to now, go get some sleep.” She watched the young couple leave before turning to Connor, “This is real, isn’t it?” “It is.” He sighed, “You know that apartment probably won’t be any good.” “I know.” Sandra nodded, “There is that one bedroom downstairs that will be vacant next week we haven’t listed it yet.” “And Caitlin doesn’t know we own the building,” He leaned over and kissed his wife, “Think it’s the right thing to do?” “If it will help them get started, than yes.” “Our daughter is getting married.” “Yes, she is, to Joel.” “Caitlin Moore.” Connor sighed. “Think Freddie is ready for a brother?” Connor chuckled, “I guess we’ll find out.” Caitlin and Joel had returned to their room while Henry and Maddie had stayed out. They had pushed the beds together and had even set up a few candles around the room. “Joel …” Caitlin closed the door of the bedroom and looked at her fiancé, the man she loved more than anything in this world, was this real? “Caitlin, if you’re ready for this. I’m ready for this.” He watched as she turned her back to him. “Will you unzip my dress for me?” nervously she bit her lip. His hands shook as he pulled the zipper down, revealing the black lace matching lingerie she wore under the dress as his hands pushed it off of her. Caitlin turned to him still biting her lip as she reached

out to unbutton his shirt, “I love you, I’m ready, for everything Joel.” He took her hands in his, bringing them to his lips, “I love you, I’m glad we’ve waited until now.” She smiled as he pulled her close to him, kissing her deeply, passionately as he lifted her up to place her on the bed. She watched as he removed his clothes except his boxers before joining her on the bed, “I’m yours.” “And I’m yours.” She kissed him as their hands explored the curves and angles of each other’s bodies, shedding what was left of their clothing before finally they began slowly making love, taking their time. “Hey Caitlin,” Freddie walked into his sisters room stopping when he saw Joel lying in bed with her, “Oh Dad!” “What is it Buddy?” Connor came to the door and saw Joel and Caitlin still asleep, “Oh that, yeah that’s okay.” Freddie looked to his father, “It is? But it’s Joel, he’s not only in Caitlin’s room, but her bed.” Joel sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked at his future father-in-law and brother-in-law, “Morning.” “We have to tell him.” Connor looked between the two boys. “Tell me what?” Joel crawled out of the bed, having slept in his pants and went to the bay window, “Freddie, come here.” Freddie went and sat with the older boy, “What’s going on?” Joel nervously rubbed his hands together, “Caitlin and I have decided to get married, on Friday. I promised you a long time ago I would never do anything to hurt her.”

“And you haven’t, not on purpose,” Freddie looked to his father and then back to Joel, “So if you and Caitlin get married, what does that make you?” “I would be your brother, are you okay with that?” Joel really wasn’t sure how Freddie would react. “Finally” Freddie blurted out with joy, “you have my blessing.” “One thing, it’s kind of a secret the only ones who know we’re getting married on Friday are, your parents, you, me and Caitlin. Think you can help us keep it a secret until then.” “Of course, but you’ll have to figure out how to explain you being here, like that when Beth shows up in thirty seconds.” Freddie pushed the window that was usually left open closed and locked it, “That should buy you a minute or two to figure something out.” Joel rushed from the window and grabbed his shirt and shoes, kissing Caitlin on the head just as he saw Beth at the window, knocking in confusion. Connor and Freddie had rushed out, closing the door behind them. Joel opened the window after he pulled his shirt on, “Hey Beth, she’s asleep right now.” “And you’re getting dressed oh please let me bust you.” “Mr. Edwards knows I was here, and if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go out the door.” Beth crawled in the window after Joel left and went over to the bed, “Caitlin, Caitlin, wake up!” “Joel, shh, I don’t want to get up for class just yet.” “It’s Beth, you don’t have class it’s summer!” Caitlin opened her eyes, “Where’s Joel?” “He just left he said your Dad knew he was in here.” “Yeah,” Caitlin sat up, “We were just sleeping. Did we have plans?”

“No, but I figured you should be up to hang out today.” “I can’t I have plans with my Mom.” Caitlin explained, “Don’t forget Friday night, I’m having that party on the roof. Well Joel and I are.” Beth watched her friend run her hand through her hair and that’s when she saw it, “Caitlin Edwards, what is this?” “What’s what?” Caitlin felt Beth pull her left hand, “Oh that.” “Are you and Jelly Belly engaged?” Caitlin blushed, “That’s what the party is for, it’s an engagement party. We were going to announce it then.” “That’s why Edwards let Joel sleep over huh?” “Yeah it is.” Caitlin sighed, “So he just left huh?” “Yeah he did.” Beth watched her friend, “You sure you’re ready to be engaged he’s going back to California.” “Beth, I know what I’m doing I know what Joel is doing. This is what we want.” Beth nodded, “Okay well have fun with your mom. I will see you Friday I have to work at the Gallery the next couple of days.” “Okay, I will.” Caitlin got up and hugged her friend, “I hope you and Drew are happy doing whatever it is your doing.” “We are with whatever it is we’re doing.” Beth confirmed before slipping out the window. Friday arrived quickly Caitlin spent most of the day on the roof, setting up with Freddie and Sandra’s help before she was sent down to shower and get dressed. She was still in her bathrobe when Beth came in through the window, “Okay, people are acting strange.”

“Really, how so” Caitlin was pulling her hair into a French twist as she spoke. “Like Jamie, he’s being weird does he know something I don’t know?” “I don’t think so.” She looked to Beth, “I need to tell you something and I need you to not freak out, okay?” “You’re moving to California to be with Joel, aren’t you?” Caitlin shook her head, “No, I am moving though, in with Joel.” “You’re parents are okay with that?” “Don’t freak out.” Caitlin warned. “Caitlin, I’m calm.” Caitlin looked at the time, “In about an hour, Joel and I are going to be married.” Beth’s jaw dropped as she looked at her best friend, “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” “No one but my parents and Freddie knew. Joel is telling the guys right now.” “I’m not dressed for your wedding!” “Go to my closet, you’ll find a garment bag with your name on it.” Caitlin smiled as she watched her friend. “Caitlin, why didn’t you tell me” Beth couldn’t help but be hurt she’d been left out of the secret. “It’s a surprise, I wasn’t going to tell my parents but telling them was the only way they’d let Joel sleep over.” Caitlin confessed, “I didn’t want to spend another night away from him, I kind of got used to hearing him talk in his sleep.” “You guys are sickening.” Beth pulled out the dress, “Wow, this is beautiful.” “I know, you think I’m going to stick you with an ugly dress, no way.” Beth looked at the yellow dress, “Wait, is that what you and your Mom were doing, dress shopping?”

Caitlin nodded, “Yeah, they’ve been really great about this whole thing. My Dad even helped Joel find us an apartment. They won’t tell me anything about it though it’s supposed to be a surprise.” Beth listened as she changed, “Wait, if you’re getting an apartment and not moving to California, where is Joel going to school?” “NYU, didn’t Drew tell you? He’s transferring here he decided that long before Paris.” Caitlin put her hand over her heart when she saw her friend in the dress. “I knew you would look amazing.” “Thank you, but now I want to see you in your dress, is it time to put yours on?” “Yeah, it is. I’ll be back in just a minute.” Caitlin went and got the dress out of the bag, it was tea length dress, with cap sleeves, white, with a lace overlay. She took a nervous breath before putting it on, “Beth could you help with the zipper” “Of course, wow, you look amazing.” Beth was in awe of her friend when she got her zipped into the dress, “Joel isn’t going to know what hit him.” “That good huh?” “Yeah, that good” Beth smiled, “So you invited like all your family huh?” “Yeah, and Joel’s family.” “None of them know.” “Unless my parents told them, then no, they don’t know.” “Are you ready for this?” “More than you know Beth, more than you know.” Nicolas Edwards looked around the roof, which was set up with a few small tables, white lights, pictures of Caitlin

and Joel over the years, including several from their recent trip to Paris. His oldest brother Rich joined him, “I think our niece is getting married.” Nicolas nodded at his odd, but loving brother, “I think so to.” “No, I mean tonight.” “No way” Nicolas looked around, “wait, why do you think that?” “Look around, our family, Joel’s family, their friends.” Rich pointed to a man in suit talking with Connor and Sandra, “Some weird minister man.” Nicolas shook his head, “That’s Jamie, one of Caitlin’s best friends I think you call him Tin-Man. Do you really think Caitlin would just surprise the family with a wedding?” Rich nodded, “Our niece would that’s what makes her special. Also why did she insist we had to come?” “I hate when you’re right.” Nicolas took a sip of his drink the more he looked around, it did look like a wedding, especially when he realized he hadn’t seen Caitlin or Beth yet but did see Joel and the other boys. “Could I get everyone’s attention please?” Connor called out to their friends and family, “As you know Caitlin and Joel invited you all here, they were very insistent that you all come to this little party, right?” The crowd agreed. “The day Joel showed up in my history class I saw the way he and Caitlin looked at each other, I knew right away that a day like today was in their future. I thought I might have a few years still before it happened, especially after they spent the last year apart.” Connor took a moment, “While in Paris, Joel asked Caitlin to be his wife, to join him in a life together. As you all know they haven’t even been back a week, but they’ve always

done things their way, not anyone else’s, and tonight, here on this rooftop, they’ve decided that they would like for all of us to witness that commitment.” The crowd of family and friends spoke to each other shocked as they found seats before Joel took his place, with Drew beside him, and Jamie having secretly agreed to officiate the ceremony, having gotten certified the other night online after everyone had left his apartment. He arranged it with Joel and Caitlin via text messages. Music filled the air and Beth walked down the aisle created between the tables, carrying a bouquet of yellow and pink flowers, and a moment later, Connor walked with Caitlin. “Caitlin and Joel are two of my best friends.” Jamie began, “it is an honor to be here today to help join them in marriage. Who gives this bride away?” “Her mother and I do.” Connor looked to Joel, “I always knew this day would come, be good to my little girl.” Joel nodded as he took Caitlin’s hands, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. “Caitlin and Joel are on the surface very traditional, but they do things their way, not how others expect them to. They’re like a summer rain, unexpected, calm, stormy, warm, and without each other they’re missing a piece of themselves. We’ve all be very lucky to watch them grow together, love together, fight to be together one way or another.” Jamie looked to his friends, “And of course they’ve written their own vows, Joel you’re up first.” Joel nodded as he took out a set of note cards which Connor ran up and grabbed from him and motioned for him to speak from his heart, “Caitlin, when you fell into my lap on that subway, I didn’t know if I would ever see you again, I had no way of knowing that you would become one of my best friends, my rock, my moral

compass, but you did. You helped to guide me right, instead of left. I can’t wait to navigate life with you, I know that we’ve already been through so much, and I know we are better as a team then apart. We’ll tackle everything together.” Jamie nodded approvingly, “Caitlin, you’re up.” She took a deep breath, “People change people, it’s the secret of life. We’ve always talked about how I changed you, but you changed me as well. It’s been in small ways, ways I don’t think I could pinpoint exactly how, I just know that I’m a better Caitlin because of you. When Beth threw me into your lap, I never expected this day to come, after everything we went through in middle school and high school, I wasn’t sure I expected it then either, but in my heart, I knew when I fell into your arms on the airplane when we were leaving for Paris, I knew that our lives were meant to be together.” Joel brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Joel, do you take Caitlin to be your wife?” “I do.” “Caitlin, do you take Joel to be your husband?” “I do.” Jamie smiled, “Do we have the rings?” “Right here buddy.” Drew removed them from his pocket and placed them in Jamie’s hand. “Joel place this ring on Caitlin’s finger and repeat after me; with this ring I marry you and bind my life with yours.” Joel smiled, “With this ring I marry you and bind my life with yours.” “Caitlin place this ring on Joel’s finger and repeat after me; with this ring I marry you and bind my life with yours.” Caitlin took the ring slipping it on Joel’s finger, “With

this ring I marry you and bind my life with yours.” “Joel and Caitlin, you’ve expressed your love for one another through your commitment and promises you’ve made today. It is with these in mind that I pronounce you husband and wife. You have kissed a thousand times, maybe more. But today the feeling is new. No longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife and can now seal the agreement with a kiss. Today your kiss is a promise. You may kiss the bride.” Joel smiled at Caitlin cupping her face with his hands before kissing her softly, slowly in front of their families. “Everyone, for the first time Joel and Caitlin Moore” Jamie announced as the crowd clapped for them as they went up the aisle. Caitlin looked around at her friends and family as she called everyone’s attention with a small bell, “Thank you all so much for coming today, we know this was a surprise to most of you. It means the world to us that you could be here today, you all mean so much to both Joel and I, thank you.” Nicolas came up to his niece, “You know I thought I was supposed to be the surprise in this family, but it’s you Caitlin. You always surprise me I’m thrilled that you and Joel are finally together.” He looked to Joel, “Treat her well, or you’ll have to deal with me.” “You don’t have to worry about her, she’s a princess to me, and I try every day to treat her like one.” Joel kissed his wife’s cheek. “The bride and groom, having kept this a secret from almost everyone here, made a selection for their first dance.” Beth announced, “Now for the first time as

husband and wife, they’ll be dancing to their song, Nothing without Love.” The song began to fill the air as Joel led Caitlin to the dance floor, holding her close, “So, um, you know that apartment I found the other day?” “Yeah, what about it?” “You’re Dad told me no way in hell we were living there, but he knew of a better place, better rent for us.” “How” Caitlin looked over towards their parents all beaming with joy. “It’s close, really close actually.” He bit his lip, “It’s in this building.” “What, we could never afford an apartment in this building.” “We can when your parents own the building and are giving us a reduced rate.” “But they don’t own the building.” She looked over and saw the look on her parent’s face “Is this for real?” “Yeah, they’re letting us live in a one bedroom apartment on the first floor, reduced rate.” Caitlin pulled away from Joel and went over to her parents, hugging them both, “Thank you.” “Anything we can do to help.” Sandra told her, “We know how difficult it is to start your lives together. Besides, this way your father won’t be up half the night worrying about the two of you in some bad neighborhood.” “Thank you, really, you are the best parents a girl could ask for, I might not have always seen it, but I knew it, in my heart.” “And you’re the best mentor a guy could’ve asked for.” Joel popped up behind Caitlin and looked at Connor, “If we didn’t have the two of you for inspiration to be the best people we could be, we wouldn’t be us. Thank you.”

“You are both welcome, now go dance, enjoy your surprise wedding.” Caitlin grabbed her father’s hand while Joel took Sandra’s pulling them out on the dance floor for the next song, before trading partners halfway through the song. Across the roof Drew was looking at Beth and Jamie, “Okay, pay up.” Beth took a twenty from her purse and slapped it into his hand, while Jamie took a hundred from his wallet. “How was he right, and we weren’t?” Beth asked her oldest friend. Jamie shrugged, “He knew about Joel transferring to NYU, that’s how.” “I tried to tell you both.” Drew smiled as he pulled out his wallet and placed the cash inside, “But you didn’t listen to me. So when we made the bet I figured might as well make it worth wild. Besides look at those two, of course they were going to get married before the summer was over.” Jamie shook his head, “So when are you two getting married?” “We’re not even like an official thing.” Beth replied. Drew looked to her, “Why aren’t we official?” “You never asked.” Beth told him as she looked at her nails. “Beth, Honey Nugget, will you be my girlfriend?” Beth smiled, “I thought you would never ask, yes.” Drew planted a quick kiss on her lips before looking to Jamie, “We just have to find you a woman now.” “I’m in no hurry, the right one will come along at the right time.” He looked at the dancing couples, “Besides, I want something like what they have, real, deep not just perfect on the surface, someone that really makes me a better man, someone I can make a better woman.”

“Aww Jamie, you’re not a little robot at all anymore are you?” Beth teased. “Hush, go dance with your boyfriend” He pushed his friend out to the dance floor. Caitlin rested her head on Joel’ shoulder, “Well Mr. Moore, we did it. We’re married, what comes next?” “We finish school, then maybe we start thinking about the next generation to meet the world, what do you think?” “I like that idea; I like that idea a lot.” She kissed him softly, knowing they had a whole future together, and they could make it past it all together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kat Halstead currently live in Colorado. When she’s not writing she’s hanging out with her nephews, podcasting for the shows A Very Special Podcast and Getting Catty with Kat & Pat. You can find her on twitter @katdvs or at her website kathalstead.com or subscribe to her newsletter .

This book was given to JOANNA RĄCZKOWSKA on Instafreebie. www.instafreebie.com