Mosaic by Leigh Talbert Moore Read Free Book Online Page A

their father. Now meeting me from Jack’s perfect features, they were only lost and a little sad.
    “I’m not going to apologize for telling you that.” His voice was low now, and I heard a touch of weariness. “I honestly don’t remember everything I said, and my delivery was… bad. Again, I apologize.”
    “Save it. There’s no reason why we ever have to see each other here.” I started to go, but he caught my arm. His strong grip kept me from leaving him.
    “I don’t want it to be like that. I do want us to be friends like you said.”
    I didn’t answer, and he dropped his arm. “That’s all I came here to say.”
    All I gave him was a nod, and he inhaled deeply before turning to go. “See you around,” were his last words before he walked away.
    I watched him crossing the space crowded with students. His casual way of walking turned a few heads and took me all the way back to that very first day at the beach. I’d hidden behind my dark sunglasses, fantasizing as he walked down to the crystal blue Gulf. He was as perfect then as he was now.
    On that day, I’d dreamed of standing beside him, holding his hand. Now, having been in that coveted spot—and tossed out of it, and pulled back in, and tossed out again—I had no intention of swimming back into that wave pool. Even if I wasn’t completely in love with Julian.
    Julian . The pamphlet I now clutched with all my other books and computer was like a huge pill stuck in my chest, and I couldn’t swallow it away. With Jack gone and most of the students clearing out for their next classes, I collapsed onto the concrete bench and pulled out my green phone. He was probably in class himself, but I called his number anyway.
    “Would you believe I was just thinking about you?” His happy voice filled my ear in less than two rings.
    Tears filled my throat, stealing my voice. Somehow hearing him broke the dam and all my emotions came swirling out in a violent stream. “Oh, Julian…” Was all I could manage in a pathetic little wail.
    He was instantly concerned. “Whoa! What happened? Are you okay?”
    Nodding, I realized he couldn’t see me, so I sniffed and coughed and tried to get it together. “Hang on,” I whispered and walked quickly to one of the ancient water fountains in the breezeway between the buildings. The water was hot and tasted like metal, but it helped me to get my voice back.
    “You’re scaring me a little, Anna.”
    “I’m sorry.” I cleared my throat. “I’m okay. I’m actually good, it’s just…”
    “You’re crying. That usually means you’re not good.”
    “I just needed to hear your voice.” Every breath sent a pulse of pain radiating through my chest.
    “It’s okay, Sunshine.” His voice was quiet now. “I miss you bad sometimes, too. But I was just there—”
    “It’s not that—or not only that. I was just in class, and well… one of my teachers… my favorite teacher said… she told me I should…” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to repeat what Dr. Arati had said yet.
    “You’re really good at building suspense.” I could hear his grin, and it made my eyes fill again. I loved him so much. “You should consider writing mysteries.”
    “She wants me to apply for Junior Year Abroad.” That silenced him. “She has a friend at the BBC. In radio.”
    “BBC,” he repeated.
    Now we were both hanging on the line, listening to each other’s breathing. I knew he was seeing what I had seen in the classroom. Nine months of us being apart. Not separated by state lines, but by passports and oceans and airlines with expensive fares.
    After what felt like a mini-eternity, he spoke again. His voice was serious. “It sounds like she’s giving you a really great opportunity.”
    “Oh, Julian.” My voice was barely a whisper.
    “You’ve got to do it.”
    “What?”
    “I’m serious, Anna. I’m not going to stop you from doing something that could change your life for the better.”
    “Even if it meant