I rub my forehead in frustration. My thoughts are getting tangled like wired headphones found in a junk-filled drawer, Imean, how can I suppose to go to that party tomorrow night with him? Stupid bucket list. This isn’t what I had in mind…
Falling for a guy I can never have.
“I’ll just focus on some homework,” I mumble to myself, “it’ll clear my head.”
I pull out one of my trigonometry assignments and set to work. I’m working out a problem while listening to Perfect Night by LE SSERAFIM from my phone. I bite the end of my pencil, thinking the next steps in my head until the music stops and is replaced with my ringtone.
I grab my phone and scream internally when I check the caller ID. I would’ve had a solid twenty-four hours to prepare myself to face Tyler at the party, but apparently time had other plans. Seconds.
I prop my phone on a stand and plug in my AirPods, schooling the best neutral expression I have before accepting the call.
“Hi.” I greet nonchalantly, keeping my eyes on my paper.
“Hey.” Tyler greets me back.
I glance at the screen and my breath hitches at the sight. It’s like we’re mirroring each other. He’s sitting at his desk, drying his wet hair with his towel. The phone’s propped high enough towhere I can’t see his upper body, but I can tell he’sdefinitelynot wearing a shirt.
“What’s up?”Be calm, cool, and collected.
Tyler tosses the towel off to the side and picks up his phone, bringing me closer to him. “Just got home not too long ago. I wanted to call you.”
I stop working on homework and lean back in my chair, giving him my full attention. “Is something wrong?”
Part of me thinks he’ll tell me about his conversation with Cassie and that will push me to face my unwarranted feelings. Now I feel my anxiety increasing by the second. I don’t have a hair tie on my wrist so there goes my one coping method.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
So much for being calm, cool, collected. A thousand butterflies have set free and flutter inside my stomach. I do my best to avoid eye contact because I know the second we lock eyes, I’m going to blush like an idiot–my trademark.
“You did great at the game, by the way. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, that means a lot.” My face betrays me, a small smile twitches on my face.
“I wanted to meet you in the parking lot after the game, but I had to leave early to pick up my sister.”
“It’s fine, I thought you were going to be busy with Cassie anyway.”
“Why would I be busy with her?” Tyler asks, settling onto his bed.
“Isn’t she your girlfriend?” My voice barely above a whisper as I prepare for his response.
“No, we’re not together,” he clarifies, his tone steady and sincere.
I make the mistake and lock eyes with Tyler and for a moment, there’s a hidden connection sparking between us. My heart should’ve dropped, gutted, ripped from my chest, but instead, I feel relieved.
Tyler breaks the silence first. “Did you actually think we were together?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors.” I grab my phone and jump back onto my bed. I lay on my side and tuck one hand under the pillow.
Tyler runs a hand down his face, “We’re not together. We were nevertogether.”
I lean in slightly, my curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”
“We were friends for a while,” his tone softens, “and then we started hooking up. Ithoughrtwe were something, but it turns out we were nothing at all. Bottom line, I got played like a violin.”
A heavy silence settles between us, neither of us speaking, just lost in our thoughts. I take the opportunity to study Tyler’s features, noticing the details I never realized until now.
The tiny scar right on the bridge of his nose. The faint freckles across his cheeks.
