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The critics have done nothing but give massive props to the prodigy, who’s broken up the monotony and splashed onto the music scene like a ‘modern-day Elvis,’Wall Street Journal’swords, not mine.

He’s callingme, and I’m not answering.

The idea that one day he’ll stop is a heavy weight in my gut, but the idea of being anything significant to him while fighting said masses for his attention is beyond comprehension to me.

“Thank God I don’t have to deal with that,” I say aloud.

“Well, aren’t you an asshole.”

I recover quickly. “I mean dating. Does he like me? Does henotlike me? Does he have more than one sexual position in his arsenal? Is he worth the price of admission?”

Holly laughs as I roll my eyes exaggeratedly.

“If anyone needs to get back on a horse other thanPercy, missionary or not, it’s you. It’s been, what, over a year since you broke up with Carson?”

“Who?” I taunt.

She glowers at me. “Exactly, but still.”

“I’m in no hurry. I’m not saying this shop is closed, but I’m definitely not going to spread myself thin trying to find a decent date.”

“As if you would have to. Girl, do you know how prettyyouare? Your summer body is on point this year, bae. Look at you, all ripped and tan.”

True to my nature, I’ve been using the ache in the weeks that have followed Seattle to fuel me and have been hitting the gym harder than ever.

“Forget men,” I declare, gripping her hand and squeezing. “Forget sex, and let’s just date each other.”

“That’s called friendship,” she says. “Sorry, but I need the sex. Are you going to eat this garlic toast?”

“Nope.”

“No bread till September?”

“Yep,” I confirm with a chin dip.

She confiscates my toast, eyeing the clock on her phone. “Shit. Damon says raincheck. Between you two workaholics, I’ll never get a weekend away. I need new friends.”

“Good luck finding better,” I taunt.

“True. I have to run.” She stands before bending to kiss my cheek, smacking her lips exaggeratedly. Feigning disgust, I wipe it with my napkin as she exits the patio and power walks towards her Audi, giving me her signature diva farewell wave. “Don’t make any plans for tomorrow. I’ll dig around and see if I can find something for us to get into.”

“’K. Love you.”

“You too.”

Sipping the last of my tea, I watch her pull away. Holly is by far one of the biggest blessings in my life. We’ve been through it all, from diapers to every part of puberty-driven awkward adolescence and so forth. Even though she’s the perfect ride or die—and I know I can trust her with anything—I’ve kept my time with Easton completely to myself. Because of that, I’ve painstakingly fought through the ache and lingering desire alone.

I did not, at all, make it out of Seattle unscathed.

It was apparent when I got behind the wheel after my flight and saw my tear-splotched reflection in the rearview.

For the first week, it felt like I was hiding a breakup from everyone—especially my parents, which was the hardest task. Even though said task seemed impossible, I went to their house nearly every night and rode Percy until my legs went numb. Sadly, after having the most romantic interlude of my life, I was left talking to my four-legged best friend, who couldn’t produce a word of advice. But riding Percy calmed me, as it so often does. After the first few guilt-riddled days and avoiding non-work-related conversations with my father, I decided I could ride out the guilt until it subsided as long as I kept my secret.

It was when the first call came fromECafter week one that I regressed. It took everything in me to keep from answering.

The thing is, I will his calls to continue and can’t bring myself to text him to stop. Even though, deep down, I know it’s only prolonging the inevitable.

Sadly, the workaholic repetition I sought escape from when I went to Seattle—and identified as one of my issues—I resumed with ferocity. Easton told me point blank if I did nothing about it, that I would be responsible from then on.

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