She studies me for a second, weighing whether she wants to push.
“You’re in a mood,” she says quietly.
I exhale, the sound almost a laugh. “Maybe.”
She hums under her breath, her expression softening. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby. I wish you were still curled up next to me.”
I adjust the pillow beneath my head, watching her through the screen. She smiles, and I don’t miss the way she exhales my name under her breath. It’s quiet and shaky.
“Tell me something about you. Something I don’t know.”
She catches me staring at her. “Something about me?” she asks skeptically.
“I feel like I know things,” I say. “I want what’s in here.” I point at my chest, and it’s true. I want her heart, but I want to know her deeper too. “I want to know beyond what’s on the surface, which is beautiful and perfect. But tell me the other stuff.”
“You’re just now starting to ask these questions.”
I huff out a quiet laugh. “Yeah.”
“Wow, took ya long enough.” She purses her lips together to fight off her smile.
“Start talking.” I narrow my eyes.
She leans back, dragging her lip between her teeth. “You remember how I told you I play Xbox?”
“Yeah, but I’m starting to think I’ve been picturing that wrong.”
Her mouth twitches. “You probably have.”
I narrow my eyes. “Alright… what kind of games are we talking about here?”
“NotAnimal Crossing, if that’s what you’re thinking.” She smirks. “I actually playDead Zone.”
I sit up, dragging the pillow with me so I’m propped higher against the headboard. “Since when?”
She shrugs. “Since… I don’t know. Years.” Like it should be obvious. “It’s just not something I advertise.”
I shake my head slowly. “That’s… not what I was expecting.”
She smiles, a little to herself. “Most people don’t.”
“We’ll have to play together sometime then. What else don’t I know about you?”
She shrugs. “I used to read a lot. We moved around a lot, and it was hard to make friends when you’re at a new school every year. I’d get a library card, though, and check out books all the time. Mostly fiction. Anything I could get my hands on.”
“Used to?”
“Yeah. I haven’t really made time for it lately.”
“Why not?”
She fiddles with the sleeve of the hoodie, folding it over her hand before perching her chin on her fist. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve just been busy with… life. You know, school, working, and… well, I’ve kind of been seeing this guy.”
“Ooh, have you? Do tell. What is he like?” I wag my brows at her.
“The jury is still out.”
