Page 30 of Find Me in the Rain

His grip on my throat tightens, and he lifts my leg higher, hitting deeper inside of me.

“Come on, Lu,” Alec demands. “You’re taking it so well. Good girl,” he praises.

I bite down on my lip as I fall headfirst, spiraling into bliss.

Fucking Alec. Stupid, stupid Alec.

8

Then

Laura,

I am writing you this letter because I’m scared I won’t be able to say all of this in person.

Since we met, everything in my life has gotten better. School, skating, hockey.

I know that we haven’t been together long, but I’m falling so hard for you, Lu. You make me smile every day. You are my first thought in the morning, and my last before I fall asleep.

I know what we have is special, one of a kind.

When you walk into a room, I feel your presence before I see you. In the hallways, I find you in the sea of our classmates.

People will say that we are crazy for being so attached. But we are meant for each other, Lu. We are just the lucky ones that happen to find each other so young.

I would do anything for you, I want you to have the world, the universe, all the planets, moons, and stars. I want to make you the happiest girl in the world. And I will. I always will.

Because I love you so much, Laura.

When I see you again, I’m going to tell you in person how much I love you, I’m going to scream it to the world for all to hear.

It would mean the world to hear you say it back, but please don’t feel any pressure until you’re ready.

That’s why I wrote it in this letter, so that you would feel comfortable to say it when you want, not because I said it and you feel obligated in the moment.

I hope you have the most amazing dreams tonight, hopefully I’m staring in them. ;)

Love, Alec

9

“Class dismissed. Laura, please hang back a second,” Mrs. Lang announces to the room.

Everyone immediately packs their things while trying to look around to see who Laura is. I give them a minute to get going before I head down the steps to her desk.

“What can I do for you?” I ask her politely.

She leans comfortably back in her chair. “You are doing exceptionally well in my class.”

I flush at her compliment. I work my ass off for my grades. “Thank you.”

She sits forward, crossing her hands on her desk. “I’m quite involved in the community, and I have an opportunity I think you might be interested in.”

I’m definitely intrigued. “Okay, what is it?”

“An acquaintance of mine at The Crooked Spine wants to hire someone local for some marketing work. He gave me the task of finding someone for it. They need someone to design a marketing plan for this next year. It would be a paid temporary position, and you could work remotely from home. It would only require about eight hours a week from you at the most. Do you think you’d be interested?”

I think my jaw is on the floor by the time she’s done. The Crooked Spine is a bookstore company that spans the US. But our location just opened up. I attended their opening just last month. It would be amazing for my résumé. And it would just be plain fun, and it’s exactly what I want to do after school.