Page 139 of Gabriel's Album

“Love you too, Cel,” I say with a smile on my face.

“Good luck with your decision, and if you have more information to give me, let me know so I can tell you what I would do,” she teases me.

I shake my head and roll my eyes, but I’m grinning when I wave goodbye to her. I don’t go back to my car straight away. Instead, I decide to walk around the city for a while. I come across a small park and sit down in the shade underneath a tree.

I pull out my phone and do something that I haven’t done in a long time; I look through my Ariana album. She’s so incredibly beautiful and sweet, and I miss her so much. I wonder how she’s doing and if she’s got the same number she used to have.

I scroll to her name in my contacts and stare at it. I should’ve deleted her a long time ago, but as much as I thought about it, I could never bring myself to actually do it. I would see her name when looking for someone else, and she would be back on my mind again. Some days it was a blessing, and other days it was a curse.

It can’t hurt to just find out how she’s feeling today, I know I dropped a bombshell on her yesterday, so any good friend would check up on her. I write out a text and hit send.

How are you doing? I’ve been thinking about you.

My heart beats a thousand miles a minute in my chest, and I can barely breathe while I stare at the screen. This is dumb. She might not even have the same number anymore. As I watch, the three dots come up to show that someone is typing, and I swallow heavily while I wait for whatever they have to say to show up on my screen.

Who is this?

It’s Gabe.

I don’t want to say anything more than that, just in case it’s not her number anymore. If it’s Ariana, she’ll know it’s me. If it’s anyone else, they won’t know it’sme.

If you had my number, you probably didn’t have to come to my work.

I release a massive breath in a whoosh as relief washes over me. At the same time, I laugh because she’s right. I could’ve just called her instead of stalking her at her place of employment. I’m glad I went there, though. I got to learn so much more about this new life of hers. I write out a reply.

I didn’t think of that. I’m glad you’ve still got this number, though.

Me, too. Yeah, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?

I sigh because it feels a tiny bit like she’s building a wall between us right now. Ariana Chamberlain, the world’s greatest bricklayer.

Come on, Ari. It’s me.

The three dots come and go a few times over the course of a minute or two before I finally get to see her reply.

Okay, well yeah. I cried after you left. You have a girlfriend. What do you want from me? To say I’m happy for you?

I quickly type out a response.

I’m sorry I made you cry.

You didn’t make me cry. You told me information, and my reaction was to cry.

I grin, because this is exactly the sort of shit that Brendan says to me. I wonder if Ariana has had therapy in the time we’ve been apart. It takes me a few seconds to think up a response that apologizes without implying I’m responsible for her emotions.

Fine, I’m sorry I told you information that had the end result of you crying.

There you go. Shouldn’t you be texting your girlfriend, though?

Ouch. The thing that stings is that I’d forgotten about Elena the whole time I’ve been texting Ariana. No. We’re just friends, and I was distracted; there’s nothing to be guilty about. It’s not like Elena should be on my mind twenty-four-seven just because we’re dating. I send another reply to Ariana.

I text her. I just like to text my friends as well.

Her response to my text comes through swiftly.

Is that what we are?

I take a deep breath and put the offer out there.

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