LOVELORNED (CHAPTER FIVE)
422 Words
Chapter 5: The Blonde Girl
The coffee shop got loud.
Or maybe it was just my heartbeat.
I turned my phone so Caleb could see it.
The photo.
His arm. Her waist. That smile. The one he never gave me at 17.
Posted 2 hours ago.
Caleb went pale.
“That’s not—”
“Don’t,” I cut him off. “Don’t lie to me in the first 10 minutes.”
He ran both hands through his hair. The same nervous habit.
“That’s Addison. My publisher’s daughter. We went to a launch party last night.”
“And you have your arm around her?”
“It was a photo op. For the book. She’s dating the marketing guy.”
I laughed. One sharp, ugly sound.
“Right. Photo op.”
“Maya, please. You can check. Ask anyone. I haven’t dated anyone since—”
“Since you left me at Navy Pier?”
The words tasted bitter.
Four years and I still remembered the exact spot by the Ferris wheel.
The green envelope was still on the table between us.
Untouched.
Like if I touched it, I’d go back to being that girl.
Caleb leaned forward.
“I messed up then. I’m not messing up now.
I flew here today. Didn’t tell my publicist. Didn’t tell my dad.
I just needed to see you. To explain. To ask you that question.”
Can we try again?
My phone buzzed again.
Kayla: “Her comments are WILD. She’s calling you a ‘stalker fan’ in her DMs.”
Addison.
Of course.
I stood up. The chair scraped loud.
“I need air,” I said.
Caleb stood too. “Maya, wait—”
“10 minutes are up,” I said. “You got your 5 minutes. Plus 5 more.”
I walked out.
Didn’t take the umbrella.
Didn’t take the letter.
The Chicago wind hit my face and I realized I was crying.
Stupid.
Four years of therapy and one afternoon with him and I’m back here.
My phone rang. Unknown number.
I almost didn’t answer.
Then it rang again.
“Hello?”
“Maya.”
His voice.
“I left something for you. At your dorm.
It’s not about us. It’s about Lily.”
My blood went cold.
“How do you know about Lily?”
He was quiet for a second.
“Because I read your journal.
The one you left at the curb.
4 years ago.”
Click.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Chapter 6: The Journal
- Writer
