"You too, Ben," I say, eyes locked on my fingers, thinking he's gone. Hope he is. But then—
His hot breath fills my ear, curling down my neck, and instantly every goosebump stands, reaching for him before I can stop it. I stop breathing.
"Maybe unblock me?" he whispers in that voice. That rough velvet voice. "Mm?"
Thenhe's gone.
And my lungs collapse as I exhale.
I throw away the sugar packet and glance at Mara. She didn't even ask anything and I shrug like I've no idea what this was about, like it's nothing.
Yeah. Nothing. But it's not nothing.
I haven't even made it home—I'm in the elevator—when I open my contacts and find his name.
The photo I took is still there. Him in that threadbare black hoodie, hair undone and eyes glazed with sleep because he just returned to the world from an afternoon nap.
That familiar comfort of seeing his stupid face like that washes over me. No matter what's changed, and how much we hate each other now, some pieces still belong to me.
I tapUnblock.
Not even ten minutes later, my screen lights up on the kitchen counter as I absentmindedly flip through the same magazine I did the other day.
Ben:Have you unblocked me yet?
Ben:Ah, looks like it. Heya
My heart skips a beat.
Picking at my fingers, I stare at it, knowing I shouldn't reply. But I do.
Me:How many times did you check?
Ben:You know me, I'm persistent
Me:Don't you have better things to do?
Ben:I'm about to change and spend the whole night stitching strangers, listening to their bad habits, and cleaning vomit, so no, not really
All I read in that was: he's about to change.
As in: strip down.
As in: everything that was hidden under that t-shirt and pants today, to underwear.
Screw this. I barely make it to the living room before my phone takes flight, thudding onto the sofa by sheer luck. I'm right back where I was three years ago, trying to stop thinking about him, and failing miserably.
Not okay.
But definitely stronger than me.
I dive onto the sofa, grab the phone, and open his messages.
Ben:Emma Foster
Ben:Three years later
Ben:Can't believe
