A thousand Boy Kisses

particular?” I teased, and watched Jorie scowl in response. “Judson, perhaps?” I
added, prompting Jorie to throw her empty cup my way.
I laughed as it flew past me in completely the wrong direction. When my

---

laughter had died down, Jorie said, “At least now Rune’s back she seems to have
backed off Jud, anyway.” My good humor evaporated. When Jorie realized what
she’d just said, she groaned in exasperation at herself, and moved quickly to sit
beside me and take hold of my hand. “Crap, Pops. I’m so sorry. I did it again! I
didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted.
But Jorie tightened her grip on my hand. Moments of silence passed by. “Do
you regret it, Pops? Do you ever regret cutting him off like that?”
I stared at the fire, lost in the roaring flames, and answered honestly, “Every
single day.”
“Poppy,” Jorie whispered sadly.
I threw her a weak smile. “I miss him, Jor. You have no idea how much. But I
couldn’t tell him what was happening. I couldn’t do that to him. Better he
believed that I was no longer interested, than to tell him the ugly truth.” Jorie
laid her head on my shoulder. I sighed. “If he had known, he would have tried
everything in his power to come back. But that wouldn’t have been possible. His
daddy’s job was there in Oslo. And I …” I sucked in a breath. “And I wanted
him to be happy. I knew that, in time, he’d get past not hearing from me. But I
know Rune, Jor; he would never have gotten past the alternative.”
Jorie lifted her head and kissed my cheek, which made me laugh. But I could
still see the sadness on Jorie’s face as she asked, “And now? Now he’s back,
what will you do? Eventually, everyone else will find out.”
Inhaling deeply, I replied, “I’m hoping they won’t, Jor. I’m not popular at
school like you, Ruby and Rune. If I simply disappear again, no one will notice.”
I shook my head. “And I doubt the Rune who came home would care anymore. I
saw him in the hallway again yesterday, and the look he gave me showed me
how he feels. I’m nothing to him now.”
An awkward silence followed until my best friend ventured, “But you love him
just as much. Am I right?”
I didn’t reply. But my lack of response was as loud as a scream.

---

I did. I still loved him, the same as always.
A loud crash came from the front yard, shattering the intensity of our
conversation. I realized a couple of hours must have passed since we arrived.
Jorie got to her feet and grimaced. “Pops, I need to pee! Come inside?”
I laughed at Jorie dancing on the spot and followed her inside. Jorie pushed her
way through to the bathroom at the back of the house. I waited for her in the
hallway, until I heard Ruby and Deacon’s voices drifting from the den.
Deciding to go and sit with them while I waited for Jorie, I opened the door and
stepped inside. I was barely three steps in when I regretted ever coming to this