THE ONE WHO NOTICED

FIVE

So can I ask for your number, or you still gonna play hard to get?"

I'm stunned stupid. Did he really just ask me for my number? Is this some type of joke?

"You're kidding, right?"

"Now why would I do that? You ain't said you got you a boyfriend, so fair game, right?!"

I just look at him, wide-eyed and shocked.

"Well, I ain't gonna give you mine 'cause I know you won't text it. So I want yours so I can actually talk to you. Not that I don't mind coming in to see you every day, but it's hard to get anything out of you. I'm growing on you though—I know that.”

Why you wanna get to know me anyhow? Why waste your time? I ain't nothing worth knowing. You could be much better off."

"I think I should be the judge of that, don't you think?"

"Yeah, well, I've been down this road plenty of times. Get to know someone, start to like them, and they just drop me as quickly as they came."

He's quiet for a second, and that smirk drops. "Look, I ain't gonna bullshit you. It's been a long time since I felt drawn to someone like this. That's why I walked back in that first night—and why I've come back every day since. There's something about you that won't let me just walk away. And when something pulls at me that strong, I fight for it. I don't waste my time, and I sure as hell don't waste other people's time either."

I just stare at him, stuck on silent, my mind racing, my heart beating out of my chest. He wasn't joking. He wasn't playing games.

He hands me his phone. "Come on, it's just a few numbers."

So I type my number in and tell myself not to get attached.

I hand him his phone back, and he has this smile on his face.

"See, that wasn't so hard now, was it? I'll text when I get in the car, and I'll see you tomorrow."

He walks away, and I just watch. What in the world have I done or got myself into? Why is he always running off so fast?

My phone beeps.

Hey gorgeous, it's Jayden. Save my number and text me back. I just wanna break them walls down and get to know you.

I look at the phone like it's some foreign object. I'm not sure what to even say. How do I even have a conversation with him? I don't know what to talk about. I start to panic when my phone beeps again.

You're cute when you got that lost look on. I'm still parked right next to you. Just text me when you make it to where you're going.

I set my phone down and drive off. I see him pull out behind me, but he goes left at the light and I head to my place.

When I'm home, changed and sitting on the step with my cup of noodles, I grab my phone, searching for something to watch—trying not to think about what if he texts me again. I didn't text him back yet, and I think it's too late to even send him a text now. I've done been home an hour or so now. So I just keep looking for a show to watch.

It's about 7 o'clock when my phone beeps, and my heart drops. A little nervousness starts to build. I open the message.

Hi Kasin, don't miss the last deadline for your 2026 coverage. We've already selected a plan for you. Just click the link below.

Fucking stupid spam text. You got me all in a tailspin for nothing.

So I go back to my show, and by 10 pm my phone beeps again. Panic starts to build up, but I calm myself down thinking it's just another automated text.

I know you gotta be home already. I told you to text me when you got there?

I calm my now-racing heart. I can reply to this.

Well, I forgot, and then I figured it was too late to even send that, so I just didn't.

That's not bad. Definitely lets my stupid out in the open. I face-palm myself at how weird and socially awkward I am.

Time doesn't matter for me at all. I'll always respond or be waiting on a response from you. I just wanna know you, Kasin. I can already tell there's something special about you. Hell, I'm fighting tooth and nail here just to get a glimpse of who you are.