When 17-year-old Rune returns to Blossom Grove, he’s desperate to know why Poppy—the girl he loved and who promised to wait—suddenly stopped talking to him. Her silence broke his heart. But when he finally learns the truth, Rune realizes the pain he’s felt is nothing compared to what’s coming next. What secret could hurt more than goodbye?
I was tired and I ached. But more than that, I hurt in my heart. Because I knew that Rune would be back in the house next door from tonight, in school the next day, and I wouldn’t be able to speak to him. I wouldn’t be able to touch him or smile at him,…
Poppy Blossom Grove, Georgia Present Day Aged Seventeen “He’s coming back.” Three words. Three words that sent my life into a tailspin. Three words that terrified me. He’s coming back. I stared at Jorie, my closest friend, clutching my books tightly to my chest. My heart fired off like a cannon and nerves overwhelmed me.…
“Rune—,” my pappa said, but I turned my back to him. “What time do we leave?” I barked, interrupting whatever he was trying to say. “We leave at seven a.m.,” he informed me softly. I closed my eyes; I now had only hours with Poppy. In eight hours I would be leaving her behind. Leaving…
My heart slammed into a new kind of beat, one that knew it had the love of its other half. It was harder and faster. It was infinitely stronger than the one before. “Poppy,” I whispered, completely struck by her words. I knew she loved me, because I loved her. But this was the first…
I stared at Poppy and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “I knew this day would come soon, Rune. I wanted to make sure we were prepared.” I kissed my girl until I built up the nerve to do this. It didn’t take long, with Poppy’s touch calming the storm inside, until I knew I was…
He turned and walked away without saying a word. Thirty minutes passed in a flash. I cast a glance over my room, one last time. Lifting my backpack, I swung it over my shoulder and walked outside, my camera hanging around my neck. Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield were already on our driveway, standing with Ida…
She took in a deep breath. “It shoots by so quickly that people savor the short time they have with it.” I felt a teardrop fall on our joined hands. I was confused, unsure why she was talking about such sad things. “Because something so completely perfect and special is destined to fade. Eventually, it…
End our world. “We’re leaving,” I finally managed to choke out. I watched her face pale. Glancing away, I managed to drag in another short breath, and add, “Tomorrow, Poppymin. Back to Oslo. Pappa is taking me away from you. He’s not even trying to stay.” “No,” she whispered in response. She leaned forward. “There…
I lay beside her, my head dropping to share her pillow. We’d done this for years. The first night I stayed over was a mistake; I climbed into her room, at age twelve, to talk, but I fell asleep. Fortunately, I woke early enough the next morning to sneak back into my own bedroom unnoticed.…
Poppy’s fingers threaded through my hair and I closed my eyes, loving her touch. “I’m sorry, I—“ “No,” I said forcefully, a little louder than intended. I shifted back. Poppy’s eyes were huge. “Don’t. Don’t ever apologize for this, for stopping me. It’s never something you have to be sorry for.” Poppy parted her kiss-swollen…