“Nothing that can’t wait.”
“So tomorrow?”
Another stretching silence. “Tomorrow. Or today technically. When do you want me?”
Every minute of every hour.“First thing?”
“First thing.”
“Oh, fuck,” I splutter out as an unwelcome memory snaps me from my pleasant stupor. “I forgot. I’ve got work.”
“On a Saturday?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I can’t miss it. I totally forgot. Um… Shit. I’ll be done by about two… but then I have to take my landlady to an appointment.”
“Youhaveto?”
“I do, kind of.”
“Have I mentioned I’m getting yeeted out of this universe any day now?”
My laugh is bittersweet. “I know. But as much as I’d rather do… literallyeverythingwith you, I still have a life of my own.”
“Alright. That’s only fair.”
“How about… five? Come over in the evening. And you can tell me what you worked on all day. Bring it with you if you like?”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
“Five.”
“Five.”
“Goodnight.”
“Night, August.”
He hangs up too fast. I’d have liked to fall asleep with him on the line, but that’s weird and immature and…
I have it so bad for this guy. I should try to act like a normal person.
I have a date with him. A proper date. That’s enough, and I should be satisfied.
My phone sings. I snatch it up at light speed. “August?”
“I just… I wanted to say, I like you too. A lot. You’re the loveliest man I’ve ever met, and every minute I have to wait to see you feels like an eternity. It’s not… I mean… I want you to know that. That’s all I’m calling about.”
My heart could burst. I cannot believe this is happening. “I feel the same way. All of it.”
“I don’t want to go to bed. I wish I were there. I wish I’d come over tonight.”
“I do too. But we have tomorrow. And…” I want to say, for as long as he’s here. But how long will he be here? And I feel so ridiculous for carrying on with my life tomorrow while this is going on. While August might be about to walk out of my life forever.
Weeks. He said we have weeks to figure this out.
“Goodnight, August,” he says.
And what else can I say? “Goodnight.”
