Friday night while I was out with Molly and Duncan, I got a text message from Josh saying "can we talk?" You know me, I was ready to pounce on the phone and call him. Molly managed to reign me in and told me not to call him right away. I think Duncan was disappointed that his program hasn't been real effective with me. They pretty much spent the evening convincing me to forget Josh.

When I got home I got on the computer and sent him an email. I just typed in an old quote that I remember hearing a few years ago. I wrote: "Loving you is like trying to touch a star, I know I can never reach you, but I can't help but try. Good luck and all my love, Nicole."

Saturday morning I went to the dance studio to help with registration for fall classes. It was busy...tons of kids coming in and out with their moms signing up. I was wiped out by the time I got home around 2:00. My plan was to nap until the swim club party that night.

But...when I walked in the door I found Aunt Lu baking a cake with Josh. I thought he was going to be in the Keys until Sunday so I was stunned to see him standing in the kitchen...and baking with Aunt Lu! Somehow I managed to get out a "what are you doing here?"

Aunt Lu made up an excuse about needing more butter and took off. It was really weird. It was like they were in cohoots with each other. After she left, Josh told me he came home a day early because he wasn't having a good time in Florida, and because he needed to tell me something. I just stood there, not really sure if it was real or if I were in a dream. I couldn't imagine him actually coming home a day early.

I told him to say what he wanted to say. He walked over to me and touched my arms and said, "I wanted to tell you that you did reach me." I thought I was going to cry and he went on about how he was hurt that I called us a fling because it meant so much more to him and I told him I was sorry and that it had meant more to me too.

He said he didn't want things to end just because he would be in New York during the week. And then he said, "we belong together...can we give this a try?" I must have said yes because the next thing I knew I was back in his arms again, back where I belong.

So last night we went to the swim club party and I had to let Duncan know that his plan had been in vain. He seemed okay though and said he just wanted me to be happy. Everyone seemed excited about Josh being back.

We got home from the party a few minutes past midnight and he walked me to the door and commented on how it was past midnight and that it was my birthday. I joked that I was catching up with him. We talked for a few more minutes and then he kissed me good night and said, "there's one other thing that I didn't tell you this afternoon." My heart stood still and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop because things had worked out so well. I just stared at him and he said, "I love you." He said it! He really said it.

I wanted to make sure it was real so I said "what?" And he repeated it again! Then I was like "say it again." He repeated it again. I kept saying "say it again" and he was laughing but he was like "Nicole" in a "I can't believe you're doing this" kind of tone.

Then I pinched him and he was like "what was that for?" I told him I wanted to make sure he was real, that I wasn't dreaming, and he told me that I was supposed to pinch myself, not him. I told him he deserved it for breaking my heart. That caught his attention and he said he'd never break it again, and then told me he loved me again, so I thought I should probably say it back.

What a great way to start my birthday... He went up to New York today to start moving into the dorm, but he's coming back home for my birthday party tonight and he's bringing Jennifer with him. I can't wait!