Just as Gina had expected, it was weird being back here. This was the same bed she'd slept in when she was an honorary Caswell a few years back, and it was like time had stopped. She was still confused about EJ, still not sure what she wanted. Only instead of putting them on roads away from each other, life was, for once, leading them in the same direction. Geographically, anyway. The rest remained to be seen.

Gina couldn't help but laugh to herself about how undeniably cheesy rom-com that thought was. But a little voice in the back of her head said, yes, it's cheesy, but it also has the unfortunate quality of being true.

Gina was nothing if not practical. Growing up with the ground shifting under her feet all the time, she'd learned that what felt like fate was really just the randomness of the universe catching up with her, and in reality, she made her own destiny. And Boston is a big city, there's a good chance they could both live there for years without even being in the same vicinity. This wasn't a sign, it wasn't anything other than a fact.

And yet…

Gina had to try and push the thought out of her head. It was pretty obvious that EJ wasn't interested in her that way anymore, or maybe any way at all. He'd practically run out of Ashlyn's today just to get away from her. If he missed her, he certainly didn't show it. They'd agreed three years ago that they didn't want to hurt their friendship by getting involved when they were still in different places and spaces. Guess there hadn't been a lot of friendship there to protect, either.

Gina hugged a pillow to her chest and willed herself not to think about it. Which, of course, is laughably ineffective. The harder she tried to forget, the more vivid the memories came rushing back. Some of them right here in this room.

"EJ, I'm sorry, this is the worst movie I've ever seen."

"I can't believe you said that. This, this is a piece of American film history."

"This is a bunch of sharks in a tornado."

"It's a METAPHOR."

"It's terrible."

"You just don't share my highly refined cinematic taste."

"I don't share your pre-adolescent infatuation with sharks."

"That may be true, but you are my very right now infatuation."

Gina laughed as he started to comically bite at her neck. She closed the laptop cover and pushed it aside, sliding under him in a very fake attempt to get away. He reacted quickly, capturing her mouth in a kiss before she could wriggle away. She deepened the kiss, pulling him down on top of her.

Things escalated quickly, until Gina placed her hand firmly on his chest. "EJ, I think… I think we should stop."

EJ pulled back, alarmed. "Did- did I do something wrong? Of course, we can stop if you want to…"

"I DON'T want to, and that's why we probably should. If we keep going, I…I don't know where this will go."

EJ waited a beat before quietly asking "do you want it to go… there? You know, like… all the way?" She laughed as he visibly winced at the super old fashioned expression he'd just used.

"I mean, yes? As much as I can know, I mean, without having been... there."

"I don't want to rush you, Gina. I've done that, and it's not worth it. I decided awhile ago I wasn't interested in going down that road again until I was really in love with someone."

"And so you don't want to go there."

"What? Where are you getting that?"

"You just said you needed to be really in love, and…"

"Well, yeah. So this seems like the perfect timing for ME, but that's not what this is about…"

Gina sat bolt upright, nearly crashing her head into EJ's.

"Elijah James Caswell, do you even realize what you just said?"

He stopped stammering for a second and met her intense gaze. Her expression was blank, and she wasn't giving anything away.

"What? That I'm not a virgin? I thought you knew that, I'd kind of implied as much. Never Nini, if that's weird to think about, but my girlfriend junior year and before that…"

"EJ! I'm not talking about your sexual history, though I guess that's something maybe I should know. But no, I mean the whole 'someone you're in love with' thing"

"Oh, that."

"Yeah, Caswell, THAT."

"Well, not exactly how I'd planned this going but, I mean… yeah. I love you. I know it's inconvenient and will make ending this thing suck even more, but I guess it's just… what it is. I love you."

"EJ... I... how do you know that? That it's not just some... reaction to everything changing?"

"Gi, I... I haven't been able to stop myself from falling for you for months, now. I'm not good at opening up, letting people in. I always shut it down, afraid it'll damage the EJ Caswell 'brand,' or something. But with you, it's just... different. I can't help putting it all out there. I don't WANT to. You are the best thing that's happened to me. And even if there were no other reasons, I'd love you for that. But there's so much more."

"Well, it's not going to make it easier, that's for sure. But, well… ah, fuck it. I love you too, EJ. I love that I feel safe with you, like you won't let me down, you just keep showing up for me. And that's not all of it, of course, but it's what makes this so different. So, yeah… here we are."

"So did that kill the mood, or…"

Gina cut him off with a kiss, trying to let that communicate everything that she needed. That she didn't ever expect someone to love her, when she never could stay. That it was THIS man only made it all the sweeter.

"EJ, I want to do this."

"We don't need to, Gi. You don't have to have sex with me just to 'prove' that you love me. You don't owe me anything."

"That's not… it's not about that. You were my first kiss, EJ. The first guy who's said that he loves me. I want more firsts with you, before they have to become lasts."

The thought of those lasts was looming large in her mind, as July was rushing by outside the window. They had just a few more weeks together, and she wanted them to be full of more of everything. More of him, more of them, making every minute into a memory.

"Ok," said EJ. "Let's just… see what happens, then? Do what feels good, feels right, yeah? And if anything feels wrong or bad or weird, just… we'll stop, ok? No pressure, no expectations. Just… us."

"That works for me. EJ… I trust you."

EJ glanced nervously at the door. "I don't want to be a buzzkill, but… this is my uncle's house. Are you sure they're not-"

"They left for Cabo a couple days earlier than expected. There might be some weather the day they were supposed to fly out, so they moved up the timing. They won't be back until next Saturday morning."

"And Ashlyn?"

"At Big Red's, won't be back for hours."

"So we really do have the place to ourselves?"

"For a bit, anyway. So do you want to…"

"Where were we?"

Back in the present day, Gina shook her head intensely, as if she could shake loose the memories and not think about them again. She rolled up onto her side to check the time. 2am, Great. She was going to be an absolute disaster trying to make it through pre-wedding pampering tomorrow. Think Ashlyn would notice if she fell asleep during her pedicure? Either way, a maid of honor with undereye bags that were bigger than a legal carryon wouldn't do. She yanked up the covers as tight as she could and willed herself to sleep.