Page 28 of The Words of Us

“That’s what I said!” Glass exclaims, pointing at me like I’ve just confirmed some universal truth. “Besides, it’s not real art unless you get at least one person passionately hating it. That’s the true test.”

I shake my head, grinning at him. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

He shrugs, taking a sip of his wine with a self-satisfied smile. “It’s why you love me.”

It’s easy with Glass. Always has been. We slip into conversation like we’re picking up threads we’ve never really put down. He knows my moods, my quirks, the way I sometimes disappear into my head when things get too heavy. And tonight, everything feels light, buoyed by the easy rhythm of his voice and the warm flush of the wine.

“You and Evie seem good,” Glass says, his tone shifting to something softer, more sincere. “I’ve never seen you this, I don’t know, settled? Happy?”

I pause, caught off guard by how much the simple observation makes my heart swell. “Yeah, I think we are. She’s...she’s something else. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like everything just fits.”

Glass smiles, genuine and warm. “You deserve that, Sash. You deserve someone who sees you. All of you.”

I nod, trying to keep my smile steady, but it’s hard to hide how much those words mean to me. I’ve spent so long feelinglike the pieces of my life were scattered, and now, with Evie, it’s like they’re slowly coming together. I take another sip of wine, letting the moment linger between us.

“So, what’s next?” Glass asks, raising an eyebrow. “You gonna be one of those obnoxiously cute couples now? Matching sweaters and finishing each other’s sentences?”

I roll my eyes, nudging him playfully with my elbow. “Please. You know me better than that. But...yeah, I think I could get used to this.”

We lapse into a comfortable silence, and I lean back, soaking in the atmosphere of the bar, the soft murmur of conversations and the gentle clink of glasses. Everything feels calm, settled, and I’m about to ask Glass about his next reading when my phone buzzes on the table, the screen lighting up with a new message from an unknown number.

I hesitate, my stomach tightening with an unwelcome sense of déjà vu. It’s not the same number as before, but the sight of it alone is enough to send a ripple of unease through me. I glance at Glass, who’s still blissfully unaware as he’s finishing the last of his wine with a contented sigh. I take a breath and pick up the phone, unlocking it with a swipe of my thumb.

“Sasha, you need to respond. This is urgent.”

The words stare back at me, cold and demanding, the urgency in them sharp and unmistakable. My heart rate spikes, the easy warmth of the evening evaporating in an instant. I stare at the screen, my mind spinning with questions, fear clawing at the edges of my thoughts. I don’t recognize the number, but the message feels like it’s reaching right through me, dragging up everything I’ve been trying to bury.

“Sash? You good?” Glass’s voice pulls me back, and I quickly lock the screen, forcing a smile I don’t feel.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I lie, shoving my phone into my bag as if that’ll keep the message from looming over me. “Just spam. You know how it is.”

But Glass isn’t buying it. He knows me too well and sees right through the forced casualness in my tone. “Spam, huh? You sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I swallow, the wine suddenly tasting bitter on my tongue. “Yeah, just...unexpected. It’s nothing.”

Glass eyes me for a moment, his expression shifting from playful to concerned. He reaches out, resting his hand on mine, the gesture grounding me in a way I desperately need. “You don’t have to talk about it, but I’m here, okay? Whatever it is.”

I nod, but my mind is already a million miles away, replaying the message over and over in my head. I try to focus on the here and now, on Glass’s familiar face, the comfort of his presence, but the weight of the words on my phone feels like a noose tightening around my chest.

Glass tries to steer the conversation back to safer ground, talking about the latest drama with his poetry group, but it’s hard to concentrate. I nod along, forcing out a laugh when it seems appropriate, but my mind keeps drifting back to the message, to the urgency in those few short words. I can feel myself slipping, the walls I’ve built around this new life starting to crack, and all I want is to claw my way back to the easy, carefree moment we were having just minutes ago.

“I think I’m just tired,” I say eventually, cutting Glass off mid-sentence. “Maybe too much wine. It’s been a long week.”

Glass watches me, his eyes searching mine, and I can tell he wants to press, to dig deeper into whatever’s suddenly shifted in me. But he holds back, giving me space, even as his worry lingers in the way he squeezes my hand before letting go.

“Alright,” he says gently. “But if you need anything?—”

“I know,” I cut in, my voice tight. “I promise, I’m fine.”

We pay the bill, and Glass walks me to the corner where we’ll go our separate ways, the city buzzing around us like nothing’s changed. He gives me a hug, holding on a little longer than usual, and I lean into it, grateful for the anchor he’s always been.

“Don’t be a stranger, okay?” he says, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. “Whatever’s going on, don’t shut me out.”

I nod, but my smile feels strained, stretched too thin over the mounting dread simmering inside me. “I won’t. Thanks, Glass.”

We say our goodbyes, and as he disappears into the crowd, I pull my phone from my bag, my fingers trembling slightly as I stare at the message again. There’s a tight knot of fear in my chest, the kind that hasn’t loosened since the last time an unknown number reached out from my past. I don’t know who it is or what they want, but I can’t shake the feeling that whatever it is, it’s not good.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the chill that’s settled over me, but it lingers, like a shadow creeping at the edges of this life I’ve started to build. I turn and head in the opposite direction, my footsteps heavy, the night feeling colder and sharper than it did just moments ago.

---