Page 81 of Just Between Us

Something about those words made me realise something. I might not be from the same world as Levi, Cole or Adam but I am happy with mine and I hate Adam for making me doubt it even for a second.

It’s a usual rainy day, the streets damp and everyone is back to being miserable as they negotiate through the crowds on the pavement. At least it’s a Friday and I won’t have to wake up for work tomorrow. It’s been a living nightmare with deadlines and without the daily distraction of Levi during my lunches, it feels even worse than usual.

As I make my way back to our flat, I swear I spot Cole’s car parked at the end of the street, but I can’t be sure. I stop, narrowing my eyes and my heart leaping up to my throat. Someone brushes past me, almost knocking me over and all but sneering at me as he walks away.

I shake my head, deciding it can’t be him and make my way into the building. It’s a newly built apartment block surrounded by gentrified Instagram-worthy cafes and natural wine spots and today in the common room they are having a pottery painting class.

As I enter the elevator, I pull out my phone and the first thing I see are Jenna’s texts and a missed call from three minutes ago.

Jenna: Please tell me why your ex-fuckbuddies are in our living room right now.

Jenna: Kai Thomas!

Jenna: Yikes why are they both so hot? Get here NOW.

Jenna:Please. <3

I feel faint reading the messages over and over again. No way, Jenna must be mistaken. The elevator pings open and I walk out, feeling disoriented. I pause at our front door, trying to listen for any voices but it’s quiet.

Jenna must be messing with me.

But when I open the door and walk through the short hallway, my heart comes to a screeching halt because she wasn’t messing with me—Levi and Cole are right there, standing in our living room. I gaze at them for what feels like an eternity before Jenna clears her throat.

“Hey, Kai,” she says, breaking the tense silence.

My eyes shift to her. She gives me a pained smile. “I’ll give you guys some space.” She moves past me. “Scream if you need me to bring a knife,” she whispers but it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.

I hear her door slam shut and then my eyes fall on them again. I open my mouth to say something but all I manage is, “What are you doing here?”

“We wanted to talk,” Cole says simply like it’s completely normal after I haven’t seen them in almost a month. No calls, texts—just radio silence. I know I don’t have much of a right to be angry. I broke things off after all, but I was just starting to feel okay and now they are here. In my flat. To talk.

Sometimes the universe can be cruel.

“Okay,” I say quietly. “About?”

“How things ended?” Levi’s voice is cautious. “Us in general.”

My eyes meet his first. His hair is slightly shorter but it’s still long enough to hang around his head. He’s in black jeans and a leather jacket. I hate that I still find him attractive.

It’s unfair that they are here. That he just said ‘us’ when there is no us. My stomach twists but I take in a quiet breath and nod.

“Would you like some tea? Water?” I may be spiralling, but my mother raised me right.

Levi’s face lights up a little. “Tea, please. Thanks.”

“I’m fine,” Cole says next to him. “Thank you.”

I busy myself with putting the kettle on, but my hands are shaking, like my heartbeat is vibrating through my entire body. It’s loud enough that I’m terrified they can hear it.

When I’m done, I turn to them, looking around the small space of our flat. Somehow, they seem too big for it. I nod towards the couch. “Do you want to sit?”

I sit in Jenna’s old armchair across them on the couch. Outside, the rain has started to fall again, everything is grey, and the room is thick with tension I’m desperate to escape. Maybe if I try jumping out the window…

“We’re sorry for showing up unannounced but we weren’t sure you’d want to talk,” Cole says.Even now, he oozes that careless charm in a green Ralph Lauren sweater that somehow manages to make his eyes even greener. He’s so hypnotic and with him, I’m like a moth to a raging flame. “Things ended rather suddenly and…” he trails. This is the first time I’ve heard him sound flustered. Maybe not flustered, more cautious. It’s unsettling. “I guess we just want to lay it all out on the table and be honest about everything,” he finishes.

“Oh, right,” I say, my stomach falling. “Look, that’s not necessary. I totally get it. You don’t have to let me down easily or anything like that. I’m doing just fine.”

That’s a lie but I hope I look convincing enough. I need them to leave before I pathetically fall apart in front of them. I already feel the lump at the base of my throat.

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