The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet-Cute, #1) (4)
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2018
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your mom sounds cool.
I think my mom had a psychotic break when they dropped me off at college. I’m the youngest of [number redacted; please consult your D&P Rule Book] and so when they drove off, rumor has it my mom lost her shit at a [regional restaurant redacted; please consult the D&P Rule Book] and threw a cinnamon roll at my father.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2018
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Per the official D&P Rule Book, family size is allowed; regional restaurant names are not.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2018
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
In that case, I’m the youngest of four.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2018
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Okay four kids in college, though? I’d throw a cinnamon roll at the man responsible, too.
Anyway, go study for your test. And good luck.
See you back here next year.
xo
T.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2018
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
See you next year.
And good luck with whatever you decide. I know you’ll be fine.
C.
Chapter Six
2019
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 13, 2019
Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
Happy Valentine’s Day, T.
C.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Okay (1) are you eighty? And (2) did you just reveal to me that you are in the eastern time zone, my dude? If not, you sent it early and I think that means I’m the official winner and I’m calling it, as I am the keeper of the rulebook.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I am not in the eastern time zone, however, the Time Stamp Rule Book accepts my victory. You are the keeper only of the Detail & Privacy Rule Book.
I am the king of 2019. The end.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Ok I’m going to let you have this one because it seems like you really need it.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I do. Today was a shit day.
But whatever. I’m curious to know if you moved and how you’re doing.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I did move. Pretty far, tbh. I’m doing . . . okay. I was really homesick at first, but I’ve made some good friends. I also have my [sport redacted] teammates . . . I think you’re an athlete, too, so you know there’s a built-in social circle there, which has been good.
I think the hardest thing for me is figuring out what I want to do. Everyone coming into college with us knows exactly what they want to do with their lives. Like, my roommate is obsessed with guinea pigs and volunteers at practically every animal shelter in this city. She will absolutely end up working with animals in some capacity and has always known that. I like a lot of things, but I don’t LOVE any one thing. It feels scary, you know? To worry I might commit to something because I have to but not because I love it.
Why was today a shit day?
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day My youngest sister had a guinea pig growing up (named Freckles, I figure pet names are exempt from the name rules, also she died like 7 years ago and has no online presence) and the rest of us were deeply uninterested in holding Freckles or having anything to do with her. But then we realized Sister #3 was allergic and instead of finding another home for her, our parents moved Freckles into Sister #2’s room, and even years later Sister #2’s room smells like rodent bedding. This injustice has been brought up at many a family dinner.
Anyway, I get that feeling of pressure about choosing a major immediately. I came in thinking I knew what I wanted to do and pivoted last year (sophomore) to something related but different, and it was fine. I feel like there’s this expectation that you’ll come in at 18 and know exactly what it is you’ll do for the rest of your life, but it isn’t realistic. Luckily my three sisters went through it first and reassured me that it didn’t matter that much. Do it at your own pace.
And today was shitty because I ended things with the girl I was seeing, and one of my sisters was in a car accident. She’s okay, but banged up, and it sucks not being home for that stuff.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2019
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Shit I told you I have three sisters. I hope I have not broken the rules per D&P.