This is such a cop-out. But it was the only way I knew to set up the finale properly...
Chapter Thirty-Two
Four Months Later
"Joe, I'm going to see you in a few days. On New Year's. You know that date you told me you circled three times on your calendar?" Laura said laughing over her phone.
Joe huffed, "Fine, I will see you when you get here then. And I didn't circle it three times!"
Laura laughed as Joe whispered, "Only once in red sharpie..."
Smiling on her bed Laura continued laughing. But in a soft voice, "And that's why I love you."
Joe felt a smile creep onto his face, "Why because I circle things in red sharpie?" he asked.
Laura rolled her eyes, "No, because you care enough to."
The two sat smiling on both ends, not speaking. The distance had be hard, but worth it. Laura felt closer to Joe with the distance between them. But his early morning calls hadn't stopped, but Laura began to love them. She loved all Joe's quirks even more because she didn't get to see them as much as she did before. She figured if she had spent all her time with him that they'd end up fighting, so for once long distance was the safest way.
And unlike most long distance relationships, it worked.
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Kevin smiled as Marissa texted him the events of her day. When he asked if she was coming for New Year's, her affirmative response widened his smile. He couldn't wait to see her again, it had been a long time but their friendship was closer than ever.
Marissa couldn't wait to go either, she counted down the days until her plane ride. Her and Laura would head out on the same flight. After discovering their common friendship of the brothers, the two had become good friends. But she couldn't listen to Laura's advice. She didn't want to ruin the friendship she had, she was in a good place and nothing was going to change that.
But Marissa still talked to Kevin every day, at least once. Something she wasn't planning on changing anytime soon. But more than friends wasn't in the picture for either of them just yet.
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"Nick, can you believe it's almost New Year's?" Leah said looking up at her boyfriend, who's chest she was lying on.
Nick just laughed and looked down at her, "No I can't. I'm excited though, we get to see Laura again. And Marissa will be coming by too." he said smiling.
Leah simply smiled back as the two continued to watch their movie. She could hear his heart beat, and she realized it was in this spot that she felt completely safe. She couldn't believe it'd been four months, everything felt so different now.
And for once, it was a good different.
