“And then these past few weeks…” His voice steadies, growing more certain with every word. “I started seeing this whole other side of you. The way you get all nervous and blushing whenever I tell you you’re beautiful.”
Goosebumps rise along my arms, but I barely feel it.
“The way you’d ramble when you were tired,” he continues. “Or how you tug the sleeves of your sweater over your hands when you're cold. Or how you sit in your car when your room feels too small.”
My fingers tighten slightly around my phone.
He pauses. “I never even wanted any of this before,” he says. “Not dating. Not a relationship. Not going on dates. I hated the wordboyfriend.”
There’s a small, almost breathless shake in his voice.
“But you changed that.”
I don’t even hear my own heartbeat anymore.
“And every moment we spent together just made one thing clearer.” His voice drops, quiet but sure. “I don’t want to be your fake boyfriend. I don’t just want to be your friend.”
My breath trembles, catching somewhere in my chest.
“I want to be with you.”
The world tilts slightly. I’m not even sure I’m still standing.
“Because I love everything about you, Maddy. I love how messy you are. How you’re a terrible cook but somehow make the best coffee in the world. I love the way your eyes lightup when you talk about something you care about.” His voice softens, almost like he’s smiling. “And don’t even get me started on your laugh, the cartoon one that makes your dimples show up.
This man is gonna kill me if he keeps going.
“I love how your hair curls after you’ve been in the ocean,” he continues more quietly. “I love how you care for others, how you can make a problem fade away by just being near.”
He exhales, and his voice roughens just slightly.
“And I really fucking love kissing you.”
Bailey snorts softly beside me, her eyes widening. I shoot her a look, and I feel my cheeks burning, but I can’t focus on anything except him.
“I love all of it,” he says.
My chest feels too tight and I think I might actually pass out, right here, right now.
“So I just, I have to say it.” There’s a small pause. “Maddy, I lo—”
The line goes dead.
Bailey and I just stare at the phone. For a full second, neither of us breathes.
“Did he just hang up?” Bailey whispers.
“I—I don’t know,” I say, but my voice already sounds wrong.
Bailey’s eyes snap to mine. “Call him back.”
My fingers dial and press on his name, but the call rings out, once, twice, before it cuts straight to voicemail. My stomach drops.
Bailey looks at the screen. “Maybe the signal—”
“Shit.” The word slips out too fast. “No, no, no, maybe something happened.”
Panic shoots right through me.
