First, Ben leaves me alone. He doesn’t text. He’s not at my shifts at the coffee shop. Shockingly, I don’t see him around town.
It’s freaky.
It’s like he’s… intentionally avoiding me? Or maybe he’s out of town. I think it’s the longest I’ve gone without seeing or talking to him since he moved back to town.
Second, Dr. Winthrop, my advisor, called me to let me know that a new grant opportunity became available. She said this grant was specifically for second year grad students going intoforensic psychology. The grant would not only cover the amount I needed after losing my scholarship, but also is meant to completely cover full tuition. Meaning I can keep the money I was saving up for school costs as a fallback and quit my job at the coffee shop.
The relief I felt after that call rivaled the orgasmic high I was on after my last encounter with Ben. I almost cried. Almost.
Finally, since Ben has disappeared off the face of the planet, out of boredom one night I swiped through my dating app until I happened upon a different Bardot brother. I instantly opened up a chat with him, my curiosity getting the best of me.
Gabriel Bardot. Fancy seeing you here.
Gabe
Oh God, Cole. PLEASE don’t tell anyone you saw me on here.
I mean… you also saw me here.
Gabe
I know. It’s just… I’m trying to forget someone.
I can understand that.
Gabe
What are you doing on a dating app anyway? I thought you and Ben were…
Were what, Gabriel?
Gabe
Who the fuck knows with you two.
Where is he? I haven’t seen him in a while.
Gabe
He’s been holed up in his room working on something. He’s being very secretive about it.
I think I know what could get him out though…
What?
Gabe
Hear me out.
And that’s how I end up on a date with Gabriel Bardot.
“This is a bad idea.”
Gabe sits across the table from me at Louie’s and shrugs.Shrugs!
“Gabriel. What if he doesn’t come? This is a small town! People talk!”
He chuckles. “Yes, Cole. That’s the point. There’s no way at least five people in here haven’t already told someone they know that we are here together. It will get back to Ben. I give it twenty minutes, tops.”
