For half a second, I wished I could unlock the phone and quickly delete all reference to Marie, but I told myself it was too late for that anyway. I needed to move forward and come clean. I needed to…
The name on the message underneath mine snagged my attention, and I read it before I’d consciously decided to.
JOHN D
It’s only been one day, but I already miss you.
What the fuck?
I scrolled further, to the bottom of an extraordinarily long text string, and started reading.
JOHN D
Last night was so magical, Teagan.
The connection between us was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
The way you listened to me like you really cared what I was saying…
The way you immediately understood me and encouraged me to follow my dreams…
The way you finished my sentences.
The way you looked when you blinked your bright blue eyes at me.
I scowled. Teagan’s eyes were gray-blue. Changeable as stormclouds. Idiot.
JOHN D
You dazzle me.
You inspire me.
The way I feel about you is so huge and overwhelming.
It feels like… it feels like LOVE, Teagan. And I know that’s crazy, and it’s probably too soon…
But you deserve to know, and I couldn’t wait another minute before telling you.
I need to see you tonight.
Please, baby.
I clutched Teagan’s phone so hard the glass squeaked under my hand, and I forced myself to put it down gently.
Baby. He’d called my Teaganbaby.
Every word that Other-John had written was one I could have said.
But it turned out I didn’t have even fifteen minutes to sort my shit and come clean. I was already too late. I’d missed my chance to tell Teagan how I felt, and he’d already found someone else. Someone who’d made him… what had Monica said? Gooey and dreamy? Someone he’d told Mrs. Graziella might bethe one.
So many other things started slotting into place, too. Postponing our Netflix Night? Needing to talk to me about his once-in-a-lifetime, unexpected good news?
In the other room, Teagan laughed lightly, happily, and my stomach flipped with genuine nausea. In just a few minutes, Teagan would come out here and talk to me about his magical date and his true love, and because I was his platonic best friend John, he’d expect me to listen and smile supportively. Iwould have to show him how happy I was that he was happy, even while my heart was breaking.
And I… couldn’t. I just couldn’t.
Later, after the shock had worn off, after the buzzing in my brain slowed down, after the panic had subsided, maybe after I’d accepted the job at Hannabury, I’d be able to be the best friend he deserved, but I knew that right then I would only ruin his excitement with my own disappointment.
