Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
My heart leaped in my chest as he glanced at me.
“Learned to love cicadas yet, hun?” Cathy asked, letting out a big laugh.
“I will never learn to love cicadas, especially when they’re trapped in an RV with me,” Sam said, holding his hands up. “But I love all of you, and I’ve been putting together a little video of our trip. I know we still have a few days left for the return trip, but I wanted to show you now.”
“So this hasn’t all been for your Instagram,” Dad said.
“Nope,” Sam said. “This one’s just for us.”
He pushed play, and footage of Sam taking a selfie video started up. It was video from before the trip—Sam, in his own room, trying to pack. He sorted through handfuls of tank tops, trying to figure out which were best.
“Not gonna bring this one along,” he was saying as he held up a tank top that said “it’s always better naked” and had line drawings of naked men all over it.
“Glad you spared us of that one,” Laura said.
But as the video kept playing, we realized that it wasn’t just Sam documenting his own trip experience. He’d been documenting everything, over time, in little video snippets that now had been crystallized into memories.
There was footage of the first night at Dad and Cathy’s house, grilling by the pool. I’d been so drunk that day, and it had been the first day we’d kissed. The footage was beautiful in a home-video sort of way, with shots of a happy Cocoa, the delicious food, and the whole family in the pool.
As it went on, I realized that Sam’s constant documenting was a gift. There was footage of the RVs, the first day camping, and a moment where we all sang along to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody around the fire. There was a sweet shot of my dad and Cathy coming up on either side of me and giving me a hug. A shot of Logan jumping into the pool at the Denver hotel rooftop. Gorgeous, sweeping views of cityscapes and later, the Grand Canyon. At some parts, Sam narrated the action, making little jokes and being adorable as usual. At other moments, he let the footage stand on its own.
And then, in the final moments of the video, Sam shared a video of himself on the Golden Gate Bridge, misty air all around him. A couple of stray tears falling down his cheeks as he panned the camera in a circle. My throat felt tight as I watched it, too, evoking a feeling from me I didn’t know I’d be capable of.
“I love you all so much,” Sam said at the end of the video. “Here’s to hoping this is just the first of many journeys together. And Logan, that means you, too, even if you continue to become a badass in your senior year of college and never want to associate with your boring family again. And you too, Fox. We’ll always be here for you, no matter how far your life takes you. And no more Christmas cards of just your Tesla. We want to see your handsome face!”
Everybody laughed, but I was too busy practically floating straight up into the air. I pulled in a deep breath, trying to compose myself.
The final footage was clearly from last night, beautiful shots taken of a sunset over San Francisco. Sam must have filmed them from the rooftop, before I’d arrived. It faded to black and everybody clapped, getting up to give Sam hugs.
I was the last person sitting, glued to my chair. When everybody had finished praising him for his skill and complimenting the video, I finally stood up, walking over to him.
“It was amazing, Sam. Just like you,” I said softly. I still felt like I was somewhere above myself.
It wasn’t just the video. It was how much it represented exactly who Sam was.
Observant.
Caring.
There for anyone. Sam was so fucking sweet while still being hilarious and sharp.
Anything could be meaningful in Sam’s world. And that’s why everything felt so beautiful when I was in his orbit.
Adrenaline rushed through me.
I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his sides.
And then I leaned back, dipped him down in my arms, and crushed my lips to his in a kiss.
Cathy gasped.
“I knew it!” Logan shouted.
“Whoa there!” came my dad’s voice.
I opened my eyes, pulling back just a little to look at Sam. I’d never seen such a look of surprise on his face, his eyes wide and a dumbfounded smile coming over his face.
“I… I thought you weren’t ready?” Sam whispered so quietly only I could hear it.
“I guess I am,” I said, a smile spreading over my face.
My heart was pounding a million times a minute in my chest. I’d also never been so nervous and excited in my life.