03 Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard

Author:Catherine Ryan Howard [Howard, Catherine Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction & Literature, Thrillers, Mystery & Suspense
ISBN: 9781538519707
Google: LDyVzAEACAAJ
Amazon: 1538519704
Publisher: BLACKSTONE PUB
Published: 2019-09-02T23:00:00+00:00

the next time he knew better than to try it with a local girl. The next time, he met her online.

She told him she liked watching Friends and she had one brother, younger, and she was wearing a Harry Potter T-shirt in her profile pic. Her hair was darker and cut to the tips of her shoulders, but Andrew actually liked it better that way. She asked him lots of questions about what his life was like now but he was too embarrassed to admit the truth: that there was nothing to report except wasted time and family tragedies, that he’d never left Shanamore for anything other than brief trips to somewhere else and back again. So instead he told little white lies and gave her the answers he knew she was hoping to hear.

Andrew let months pass before suggesting that they meet in person. She didn’t know his real name but, still, he had to be certain before he could even ask.

She didn’t react as enthusiastically as he would’ve hoped, at least not initially. There were a few days of radio silence. She was afraid and he understood that, because he was afraid too. Maybe the end of this was him as raw with pain as he had been when Caroline had left the first time. Maybe the end of this was the end of all things.

But she was worth the risk.

He assured her that they could go at her pace, that he wouldn’t pressure her into anything, and he provided a route around every obstacle she raised. Some personal, yes, but mostly logistical.

He reminded her how much he loved her, over and over and over again. He was gently persistent.

One night she said they could move from messages online to a telephone call and when he—finally—got to hear her sweet voice, it was telling him that she wanted to meet.

Her voice was different, both in sound and accent. But if Andrew closed his eyes, he could still hear Caroline.

It would have to do.

He waited for her at the bus station on Parnell Place. They smiled nervously at each other for a moment before Andrew asked if it was all right to give her a hug. She said yes, although the ensuing embrace was stiff and awkward, but that was okay. Baby steps.

Physically she felt just like Caroline had that first time, that first summer. He was pleased. He had made a good choice.

She pointed at her red hairband and said, “Can I take this off now? I recognized you straightaway.”

He asked her to leave it on.

She had a little bag; Andrew offered to carry it. She called him by someone else’s name. She wanted something to drink so they stopped at the nearest café. Andrew was anxious about this unexpected detour, but he wanted to please her. He led the way to a table near the back, as far away as they could get from the window, half hidden by a display of cakes and pastries.

The man pulling levers on the coffee machine followed them with his eyes.

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