Page 74 of Wish You Were Mine
Me: It was definitely hard at first and everything was kind of a mess. It’s a long story that I don’t really want to get into over text since it’s…a lot. But you’re sweet. And I’m okay now.
I hitSendand stared up at the ceiling, letting the remindersof those hard times settle. I hadn’t talked about my family with anyone new in a long time.
A few seconds passed before my phone buzzed again.
Theo’s sister: Glad I didn’t offend you or anything. I’m not always the best with my words. (Or texts in this case.)
That made me smile.
Me: You’re just great. And from where I’m sitting, your texting abilities are perfect.
I’d had fun chatting, at least.
Even though I probably shouldn’t be doing it…
But the line betweenappropriateandnothad been severely blurred from the beginning.
She’d started as just a cute girl at the bar. Then a fun girl at Ky’s party.
In any other universe, I would’ve asked her out by now. Taken her to dinner. Maybe kissed her under something other than string lights and poor judgment.
It wasn’t her fault she’d walked into my classroom a week later.
My phone buzzed again.
Theo’s sister: I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it. I’ve liked texting with you too.
My heart gave a soft thud.
We were being good. So careful.
Tiptoeing around this undeniable pull that didn’t feel like nothing.
I typed back.
Me: What time’s your meet today? You already at the arena?
Theo’s sister: It doesn’t start until 1:00, but we’re just about to leave the hotel and head over.
Me: Cool. Well…good luck. I hope you have a great meet.
Theo’s sister: Thanks
I stared at that emoji longer than I probably should have. And then closed my eyes, wondering how much longer we could play this game without someone getting burned.
21
LUCY
I pulledmy backpack over my coat, my body heavy with that bone-deep kind of exhaustion that makes you question every life choice you’ve ever made—including taking a marketing class with a professor who clearly hated joy.
Yeah, the honeymoon phase of the semester was officially over. Two weeks in and things were getting serious.
I’d been holed up in the same corner of the library for hours, and even though it was only Tuesday, it already felt like I was dragging myself through the last leg of finals week.
But after traveling all day Saturday and Sunday for our Michigan meet, it wasn’t like I’d had a real weekend.
I’d stayed way later than planned tonight, determined to finish my marketing project before the deadline. I’d meant to do it over the weekend, but between the meet, the flight, and the general chaos of competing, it hadn’t exactly happened.
