“I’ll see you tom
orrow,” he says.
Tomorrow. The version he’s offering isn’t the same as the one the girl—A—offered.
I guess I’m not going to know which tomorrow I’m stepping into until I actually get there.
Chapter Eight
I fall asleep right after dinner and wake up right before midnight. And in that waking moment, I think: I want to go back there. I want to go back to that day when everything was perfect, and Justin was everything I want him to be.
Even if it wasn’t Justin.
I can’t believe I am allowing myself to think this. I can’t believe I’m opening my email. I can’t believe I am typing.
A,
I want to believe you, but I don’t know how.
Rhiannon
I can’t believe I am hitting send.
But I do.
And I guess this means there is a part of me that believes.
—
I check my email again at lunch.
Rhiannon,
You don’t need to know how. You just make up your mind and it happens.
I am in Laurel right now, over an hour away. I am in the body of a football player named James. I know how strange that sounds. But, like everything I’ve told you, it’s the truth.
Love,
A
A football player named James. Either this is the most elaborate prank ever pulled on a stupid girl or it’s real. These are the only two options. Trick or truth. I am trying hard to think of another explanation, but there’s nothing in the middle.
The only way to know is to play along.
A,
Do you have a car? If not, I can come to you. There’s a Starbucks in Laurel. I’m told that nothing bad ever happens in a Starbucks. Let me know if you want to meet there.
Rhiannon
—
A few minutes later, a reply:
Rhiannon,
I would appreciate it if you could come here. Thank you.