Across the Ocean Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation around me is about. I’m so busy trying to pretend like I don’t care. It’s exhausting, and this sucks.
    He ’s sitting right across from me, and everything that I ever dreamed would come to pass with this guy is never going to happen. All these years of whatever it was between us that we had shared together is for naught. It all comes down to us pretending we don’t even know or like each other. What a waste.
    My beer is gone and I ’m realizing that I’m really tired. All of this is too much for me, so I give Emilia a look that conveys my desire to leave. She whispers into Valur’s ear, probably to tell him it was time to get going. Then she stands up and smiles at everyone at the table.
    “I think we ’re going to head home. I’m sure Brooke has some jet lag. Are you ready to go?” The expression on her face makes it clear that she understands how uncomfortable this is for me.
    “Yeah, I ’m ready.” I stand up and slide my jacket on, grab my phone, and place it into my jacket pocket. I wave at Sóley, Lára, and Ari. The girls wave back while Ari grins a bit and nods at me. We walk back into the bar, out the front, and head home.
     
    ******
     
    Early 2004
    Brooke is in California.
     
    I hear the doorbell ring and head out of my bedroom to answer the door. My dad beats me to it, so I head towards the kitchen instead to find something to munch on.
    “Wow, someone had flowers delivered to them .” He walks into the kitchen holding a rose pink glass vase full of flowers in pink, magenta, red, and white, and sets them on the counter.
    “Did you get these for Mom?” I sniff at them. They are really beautiful.
    “No, they’re for you.” My dad pulls a little card from the bouquet and hands it to me.
    My mom walks into the kitchen and sees the flowers.
    “Are those from your stalker?” She could be teasing me, except for the fact that I actually do have a pretty harmless stalker named Davey, and they could be from him. Thankfully, when I open the card, I see that they’re not.
     
    Every beautiful girl deserves to be given flowers on Valentine’s Day,
    Will you be my Valentine?
    Ari
     
    I’ve never been given flowers before. Ari knows this. Valentine’s Day isn’t celebrated in Iceland, and he had to find a way to get these delivered to me by a company here in San Diego. That takes a lot of dedication. It’s a few days before Valentine’s Day, but who cares! This is literally the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. My eyes are burning with unshed tears, my throat tightening to keep them from flowing, and I sniffle a bit.
    “They ’re from Ari,” I say in a small voice, a bit overwhelmed with feelings. My parents have heard of Ari, and they know how often he and I talk. They don’t mind, because what real harm can come from talking to a guy who lives in another country? Besides, I’m an adult, and they can mind their own damn business. Just kidding; love you guys.
    My mind is going crazy at the implications of this gesture. The effort he had to put into it and the thoughtfulness of doing something so romantic is astounding. Surely this has to mean that he feels more strongly for me than just flirty friends, right? Have we crossed into a higher relationship without realizing it?
    We are really close. I tell him all of my secrets. I trust him. I can count on him to talk with me multiple times a week and I kind of plan my life around those times. Why the hell do I have to be so far away from him? Why does it feel like the best thing that could ever happen to me isn ’t within my reach? I’m never going to forget this. I think I kind of love him.
     
    ******
     
    Present time
    2007
     
    While r elaxing in my bed after we get home from the bar, I turn on my laptop and log into MSN chat. I can see that Ari is online, so I stare at his screen name, willing him to message me. I’m scared to initiate conversation. I can’t fully comprehend what happened earlier. I