Casual only.
I’m leaving soon.
He wanted to be alone.
That’s why he came here.
My sob catches in my throat as I head toward Ben’s apartment. My umbrella hangs at my side, the lights off.
I don’t rush.
I don’t want to face the moment when he’s not there.
Because I know he won’t be.
I lift my head as the sound of shouting reaches my ears. Up ahead, a group of people are clustered on the sidewalk.
I pause beside them with little interest, waiting for the lights to change.
“—the hell is he doing?”
“He’s going to get himself killed.”
“Should we call someone?”
I glance over to where they’re pointing. Over to our right, a man is walking directly up the middle of the main road. A car swerves around him, the driver yelling angrily as he gestures out of the window.
My brows knit together.
And then I’mrunning.
I shove people out of the way, ignoring the irritated shouts as I run directly for him, my scream ripping from my throat. “Ben!”
He doesn’t turn around.
“Ben!” I can’t get the yell out through the terror in my chest as another car barely avoids him. “Get off the road!”
Is he—
No—
I slam into him, nearly taking us both over. He spins, hands landing on my arms as I shake him. “What are youdoing?”
“Emmy?” Ben… hesmilesdown at me, and I pause, both of us standing in the middle of the street. “There you are.”
Panting, I stare at him. “What… what are you doing?”
His brow creases. “Coming to pick you up. I always come to pick you up.”
He glances down the road, his eyebrows dipping further into a frown as he looks around us. “I was… I was coming to get you.”
I wet my lips. My words are almost voiceless, choked and slow. “Which way were you going?”
He stares at me, mouth opening before he turns and points. “I… that way. That’s the way to the bar.”
I turn with him, staring down the street toward the oncoming traffic as my eyes blur and horns blow.
I thought I knew what heartbreak felt like.
