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He grinned when he sawabout how cold the water was and how Clive should not try to swiely and pressed another print to the

Now that Si me texts and pictures from all over Marin County He had a favorite restaurant, a favorite place to get coffee in the

For the record, his favorite position remained whichever one I was in when he was inside ed to sneak in nad tier Such a hardship

And with all this free time came unexpected visits Office pop-ins Several phone calls a day He was around all the time, and didn’t seeically got that I orking more than ever, and that I was happy Didn’t stop hi

And shit, that was hard Because it is incredibly difficult to get out of bed everyon to your pajamas Because, and I say this with pride, his favorite position remained whichever one I was in when he was inside h, he was around all the time He’d also reminded me several ti Italy and heading to Prague, planning on spending a few days in the city and then exploring the Czech countryside Iher tellwith her husband She was relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen her in years, and she was sure to telleverything so that she could take this ti her refer to Benja he’d been her fiancé the entire time I’d known her

I’d asked her once what o ahead and set a date We’d been sitting in the conference roo to decide which one would be the wedding cake I caught her looking down at her ring, s a secretive smile, and I asked her

"I don’t know One day I just looked at him and kneas ready to be his wife I’d built oals I’d set in my twenties and a bunch I’d set in rinned, pulling the chocolate buttercrea back toward her for another taste I had a feeling this one was going to be the winner It was "Plus, have you seen his ass? Oh, look who I’, the president of the Benjamin Fan Club," she joked

"I’ll have you knoon that election fair and square It’s notthat day Fair and square," I explained

Speaking of my friends, all was quiet on the Sophia and Neil front They hadn’t seen each other since Gaain before Christ to talk her out of But when she invited theet out of it In fact, they both see this time? They both continued to date, and often, but it rarely went beyond to a second date

Color me surprised

In order to jet off to Philadelphia for an entire weekend in the middle of one of my busiest seasons, I worked practically round the clock, evenings, and Saturdays to clearbehind and just be with Si; there was no way on earth I was going to let hiht before we left he had a nightmare, and today on the plane he barely spoke When he did speak, he was curt and quick When the plane touched down, he turned toa dick this weekend, in case I a on it, but if it does happen, I’y preaccepted No me your hometown-- I can’t wait to see your Liberty Bell"

He half smiled, and took my hand as we left the plane

• • •

Philadelphia was a city I’d never been to, and I wished I had evenmy reenactment of the Rocky Run up the steps of the artwherever and whatever Simon needed Besides, apparently they moved the Rocky statue from the top of the stairs off to the side anyway Pffft

We picked up the rental car, threw our bags into the back, and headed to the hotel With the trip cross country, it was already dark by the tirew up, but he lit up when he began to call out places he recognized And places he didn’t

"When did that bike shop close down? Ohwheels Why is a o up?"

"When’s the last tiraduation, I think," he said distractedly, his eyes going back and forth on both sides of the street

"You really haven’t been here since you were eighteen?" I asked, astonished

"Why would I have been back?" he asked, ht into the rew up in Philadelphia, that wasn’t technically true He grew up in one of the many feeder co areas I knew he came from money, but I didn’t know he ca in the way all northeastern towns looked to anyone who grew up in California There was so up in a town that was alrew up in Most of the houses we passed could only be described as estates

The town square was quaint, with tidy little shops fra City Hall in the center Two story mostly, with a few turreted three stories on each corner People were shopping as the lightest dusting of snow fell, sparkling on the wrought-iron railings and--ohposts! Like, where people used to tie their horses to! Like, in olden times!

"Simon, we have to walk around a little, look how cute your town is! Look at all the shops, and, oh, look at the Christ In front of City Hall was a large tree, bedecked with red bows, gold ornahts

"Babe, they put up a Christmas tree in front of City Hall in San Francisco every year"

"This is different; this is so stinking cute! Everything is so old! What’s that?" I asked, pointing to an old Gothic house with a plaque outside Eachhad a wreath; the s upstairs even had candles too It was so pretty, it nificance

"It used to beYep, it’s still a Subway"

"Station?" I asked, confused

"No, like the sandwich shop," he replied, laughing at my fallen expression "I can’t believe it’s still open; no one eats there Not when there’s Little Luigi’s You still want a cheesesteak?"

"A up," he said, turning the car down the last corner of the town square "You gotta understand, everything here is old Every building used to be so else," he explained, pulling into one of the parking spots that was diagonal along the square "Except for that stupid strip mall where my bike shop used to be"