Page 26 of I Blame the Rival

“Do I know you?”

I wince, knowing with absolute certainty that’s the question that gets you featured on a true crime podcast.

“Sorry, that came off as rude.” Closing my book, I hug my knees closer into my chest, “It’s been a long night.”

He goes to take a step forward then pauses.

“Is it okay if I come closer?”

My skin is dry and irritated from my earlier tears and yet this one simple question puts a warm glow back in my heart.

“Go ahead.”

He takes three steps then stops. There’s still five feet of space between us, but he doesn’t make a move to come any closer. My shoulders drop in relief.

“I don’t really know how to say this.” He shuffles his feet, never taking his eyes off my face, “But I think you might be the person I’ve been writing to for the last few weeks.”

I blink and he gives me a shy smile.

“I’m Skylar.”

My mouth opens and closes but no words come out. Skylar shoves his hands into his pockets and drops his gaze.

“I know I’m probably not what you were expecting.”

The disappointment in his voice has me sitting upright.

“No, it’s just… you’re a guy?” Stating the obvious like the idiot I am, I can’t stop the rest from falling out, “I thought you were a middle-aged woman with a barn cat.”

He tilts his head, “Did I give off lonely cat vibes in my letters?”

Laughter bubbles up and slips past my lips, “I think we were both giving depressing cat vibes.”

“Not wrong.” Skylar gestures towards the spot across from me, “May I?”

I wave my hand like I’m not sitting in a dirty parking lot, “Make yourself at home.”

Watching him like a creeper, my heart starts to race as I register the two facts I grossly overlooked.

Skylar is a boy.

Skylar is a very cute boy.

My cheeks flush when I think about all the secrets I shared. Skylar made it so easy to open up that I just assumed he was a girl. It was a biased assumption but that doesn’t change the fact that Skylar is my friend.

Even if he is really pretty.

Skylar settles himself down on the dirt across from me and I can’t help but stare. The white-blonde colour of his hair brings out the high cheekbones and mesmerizing colour of his eyes.

One blue. One brown.

Equally beautiful in their own right, the combination of them together takes my breath away. He’s not handsome but he’s striking. Different.

The most beautiful human being I've ever seen.

I should feel bad for staring, but I don’t. Skylar is doing the same thing, staring at my face as if I might disappear at any moment.

Silence falls between us until he clears his throat.

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