Read Online After the Rain by Lisa de Jong - Free Book Online Page A

staring at me. I’m to the point where I just want to be alone so I can try to think.
    “Would you mind checking the library again?”
    “The library?” he questions, lifting an eyebrow.
    “Yeah, do you know where that is?”
    “Of course I know where that is,” he says as he stands to grab his keys.
    “Thanks.”
    Not even two minutes after he leaves, my cell phone starts ringing from the coffee table. Grabbing it quickly, I don’t even look to see who it is. “Kate?”
    “Beau, it’s Emery. I just wanted you to know that Kate just walked into our room, and she really needs you. Can you come?”
    “Is she all right?” I ask frantically as I grab my keys and head out the door.
    “Just come quick, okay.” Her voice is full of concern, and all I can think about is the quickest way to get to her.
    “Is she hurt?” I ask as I run down the steps.
    “I don’t know. I don’t think so. Just hurry okay.”
    “I’m on my way. Don’t let her leave,” I say as I jump into my truck.
    Maybe I shouldn’t be driving, but it’s almost two miles back to campus, and I can’t afford to waste a minute. Emery’s phone call relieves me but also scares the crap out of me.
    When I reach the dorm, I barely put my truck into park before jumping out and making a run for the door. I swear if Drew did anything to her, I’m going to kill him this time.
    I don’t bother knocking when I reach her door. As soon as I’m inside, my eyes begin to scan the room. I find Kate sitting on the floor with her back to me.
    Emery appears at my side. “I’m going to leave you guys alone. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
    I nod and mouth, “Thank you.”
    As she leaves, I quietly walk up behind Kate, anxious to see what she’s doing. Her hair and clothes are soaked, and her body shakes from being exposed to the cold January air.
    Sitting down next to her on the floor, I notice the shoebox in front of her. There are napkins enclosed in small Ziploc bags scattered all over the floor, and in her hands is a letter.
    My heart drops when my eyes finally find her face. Tears stream from her eyes, and her skin is blotchy from crying.
    “It’s raining in January,” she says, smiling sadly.
    I glance down at the letter again and recognize the handwriting. It hits me.
    Exactly one year ago today, Asher died. I don’t know what’s going through her head right now, but I know I have to be here for her. There’s no way for me to make this better, but I can make sure it’s not any worse than it has to be.
    I slip my finger under her chin to draw her attention to my eyes. She needs to know I mean every word that I’m about to say. “I should have remembered. I’m sorry.”
    She closes her eyes tightly then opens them again. “I felt guilty for being happy this morning. He’s not here anymore, and I’m here with you.”
    “Kate—”
    “No, let me finish. I felt guilty until it started to rain, and then I remembered everything he ever said to me about living my life. He’d want me to be here with you right now,” she says while I brush a tear from her cheek.
    I remember the note I received after he died, and my own tears start to brim in my eyes. We’re here now because of him. “It’s a miracle that he walked into your life when he did.”
    She shakes her head. “No, I don’t believe in miracles. If miracles existed, Asher would still be here right now.”
    I pause for a minute, trying to figure out a way to comfort the beautifully broken girl in front of me. I hate seeing her like this. “Do you want to talk about him?”
    “What?” she whispers, looking stunned.
    “Maybe if you talk about him it will help. What’s one thing you’ll never forget about him?”
    She stares up at the ceiling as the tears well up in her eyes again. “He liked to dip his French fries in his ice cream,” she cries, focusing her eyes back on me.
    I reach out to her, and she falls into my arms, her head against my chest. Holding her