The Heart You Hid Away Stopped Waiting for You Long Ago

For Valentine's, so Jerome and I would have a chance to spend time together, Mom and Dad closed the diner for the whole day.

They invited the neighbors along to a hot-spring resort.

After all, everyone knew I'd trailed after Jerome Gilbert for six years.

What no one knew was that we'd been dating in secret for three.

Today was the day we'd agreed to go public.

It took real effort to squeeze half a day off out of my boss, and by the time I got to the resort, everyone was already in the water.

I tugged at the swimsuit Jerome had given me, my face a little warm.