Robyn:Nate, I’m so sorry. I had to work through lunch today. Let me make it up to you?
I rub the center of my chest, trying to soothe the tightness gathering there. I should have known, she’s racking up ‘let me make it up to you’s. And I’m not mad, but I’m disappointed… and not surprised.
Shoulders slumped, I walk back toward my firm, but thethought of eating my lunch for two alone at my desk turns my stomach, so I cross the street and take a seat at one of the mall’s outdoor tables instead. Just as I’m sipping my drink, I hear a familiar laugh.
Standing a few feet to my side, a coffee tumbler in one hand, sunglasses in the other, is Tessa.
Her blonde hair’s pulled in a sleek and glossy ponytail. She’s wearing an open blazer, soft gray, professional. Underneath, a flowery blouse has the first few buttons undone, making it an edgy, bold outfit. For the first time, I have to think about looking away from my friend’s form.
“Hey, stranger,” she says, clapping her hands together.
She gives me a lopsided smile and takes a seat next to me. Her arm slides up mine, with confidence I won’t pull away, and her fingers brush the back of my neck.
“I’m so glad you could make it!” she says, voice bubbling over as she draws me in for a hug.
I circle my arms around her waist, realizing a beat too late that it’s just a hug. We’ve hugged without me thinking about it for years. And it’s never meant anything, but this one… this one feelsdifferent. Her side is flush against mine, and the softness of her curves press in on me. I don’t want to notice any of it, not the slight hitch of her exhale or when her citrusy perfume floods my senses.
I let go, startled.
“I didn’t think you’d see my text in time!”
I’m about to ask what she means when my phone buzzes next to the cupholder—Robyn’s lychee boba and my Vietnamese coffee. Then I check my phone, swiping out of Robyn’s apology.
Tessa:Want to meet me for lunch? My coworkers say there’s a mall with a food court and outdoor tables halfway between your job and mine. Isn’t that great? No biggie if you have meetings!
A stupid coincidence.
“And you ordered already!” she singsongs.
Before I can correct her, she plucks the lychee drink from the tray, takes a long sip, lips closing around the straw, and hums.The sound slinks through the space between us, tensing my already shot nerves.
My laugh is uncomfortable, but she doesn’t notice. “Hey, Tess, I didn’t think you liked boba tea.”
She arches a brow. “I’m evolving,” she says, voice low, teasing. Her arms cross—an innocent enough move—but it pushes her chest up, the neckline of her blouse dipping just enough that I have to drag my eyes away before I get caught looking.
What the hell am I doing?
I cough, pulling myself together to reclaim my girlfriend’s drink. “Actually, that’s—” The imprint of Tessa’s lipstick on the straw, dark red, almost burgundy, stops me.
It’s silly, even wasteful, but I don’t want Tessa’s lips on anything that’s meant to be Robyn’s.
“What do we have here?” she murmurs, leaning over the takeout box and opening it with care.
I cover her hand with mine, and her skin is soft, warm, and familiar even when the awareness is newly dangerous.
“Actually,” I say, trying for easy, steady,normal, “I was taking this to Robyn. She works a few blocks over. Sometimes, I like to surprise her for lunch. Squeeze in a little extra time together, you know?”
I expect her to drop it, but she doesn’t. “Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you were here for me. Am I keeping you?”
I glance at her. “No, not really. It’s good running into you.” I stare into her eyes like I would any acquaintance.Have her eyes always been moss green?
Her lips twitch. “You’re sweet,” she says, tone airy, smilingsweetly. “But why are you here, eating all alone instead of with Robyn?”
“Oh, well.” My gaze avoids hers. “She couldn’t make it, so I just got back.”
“You’re a good one, Nate,” she says the words around a sad smile before her lips turn into a pout. “That must have been hard.”
There’s nothing in the words themselves, but the way she says them, lingers. Her eyes linger too, and I don’t move because itwashard—like a slap on your face.
