Page 52 of Until the Last Star Fades

They strolled in silence past several stores and a crowd of chatty students leaving a bubble tea shop.

“I had a bit of a wander after my audition. I was too wired to head back to Hunter’s, so I faffed around Times Square.”

Riley flashed a sarcastic smile. “Yeah, ’cause Times Square is relaxing.”

“It was bonkers! I thought Piccadilly Circus was barmy with the screens and people darting everywhere, but Times Square…” He blew out his cheeks. “Total sensory overload, but cool, too.” His hands settled in his hoodie pockets. “Oh! I got you a present.”

“A present?”

“It’s also an apology for almost spilling your engagement news to Piper.” He pulled out a colorful wrapper folded in half.

“Fun Dip!” Riley laughed, clutching it to her chest. “I love this stuff. How’d you know?”

“That morning in your flat—you lit up like a Christmas tree when you saw it.”

“We grew up with it. Tastes like Kool-Aid powder, but sour—in a good way. Did you try it?”

“You think my tongue is naturally blue?” He stuck it out then laughed. “The candy stick was the best part.”

“I know, right? Thank you!” She rooted around in her purse, removing a small pink box to make room for Ben’s gift.

“More candy?”

“Yeah, say hello to dinner.” She shook colorful candies into her hand. “Want some?”

Ben squinted. “What are they? Pieces of chalk?”

“They’re candy hearts. They’re available around Valentine’s Day. See? They have sayings.”

He scrunched up his nose. “They look stale.”

“The candy or the sayings?” She smirked and stepped around a row of wheelie recycling bins blocking the sidewalk. “Here.” She grabbed Ben’s hand, pouring a bunch into his palm. “Erika stocked up for her wedding but then found out she could custom order her own messages. She was about to chuck ’em.”

“You should’ve let her.” He nudged the candies with his finger, flipping them over. “We have Love Hearts back home. They’re bigger, better looking. Riles, these are crap.”

“Taste one!”

“Why would I pop something so hideous in my mouth?”

Riley giggled.

Ben looked up, flicking his hair from his eyes. “What?”

“I said that to Piper once, but it wasn’t about candy…”

Ben broke into a laugh. Should I go there? Yeah, go on. “And despite that, you still said yes to Josh?!”

Scrunching her eyes, Riley burst into full-on laughter, giving him a playful shove. “Benjaminnnn!”

Still giggling, he picked up several hearts, reading the sayings aloud. “Nuts 4 U, 1 On 1, Pugs &…Kittens? What?! What the actual fuck?”

Riley laughed and traded the box for her phone, tucking the candy into her purse. “They don’t say ‘what the actual fuck’.”

“Well, they should do!” He hid the hearts in the pocket of his jeans. “I’ll find you the real deal, the British ones. Once you go Brit, you just can’t quit…but tell that to Piper. I was probably her worst date since the bed bug bloke.” He glanced across the road at a drunk guy yanking his equally wasted friend from a mound of leaky trash bags. A chuckle left Ben’s lips as he swept the candy dust from his hands and with it, his conversation with Riley. Silence swallowed up the air around them. Oh, shit. Did I cross a line? He peered sideways, testing the temperature, but Riley wasn’t shooting daggers or shaking her head in annoyance. She was staring at her phone. Hmm. “Riles?”

She turned her head suddenly, stuffing her phone in her jacket. “Uh, yeah?”

“It’s not weird, is it? That I went on a date with Piper?”