Page 207 of We Can't Be Friends

Almost burned the place down.

I’m kidding.

I miss you, Pretty Boy.

I love you.

All of my texts and calls go unanswered. I even resorted to sending him ridiculous memes in his DMs, practically pleading for a scrap of response.

The decline in response worried me thathe changed his mind.

Emerson flew out early for my birthday. She was supposed to come next weekend for our annual best friend’s sleepover extravaganza.

Her being here didn’t change anything. Physically, sure, someone was here. Emotionally, I was drowning in his ocean eyes, which haunted mine every time I closed them.

I’m worried about him. I hadn’t been till the last day when he didn’t respond.

Emerson dragged me out of bed this morning—we’ve been sharing the one in my old room—for a walk. We walked along the river with Tucker, stopping for coffee and a new bouquet of daisies.

As soon as we returned, I threw them in the trash, staring at the vase of dying ones—the last ones he bought for me. We’ve been curled up on the couch since we got back.

“I don’t want there to be an after him,” I tell my best friend as she sifts through my hair. Emerson alternates between twirling a strand and rubbing gentle circles on my scalp.

“There’s not going to be,” she tries to reassure me.

“How can you be sure? I can’t shake the sense that something’s changed.”

“Chloe. It hasn’t.”

I cry. I feel his absence everywhere.

I’ve had a lot of goodbyes in my life.

But Callum Jasper Sullivan. . .

He’s one I never thought I’d have to say those words about.

“There can’t be an after him.” It comes out between sobs.

“There won’t be.”

That voice.

His voice.

I shoot up, looking around our place for him. He’s standing in the doorway, a backward hat and an icey blue gaze fixated on me.

“Hi, Dais.”

“Hi, Pretty boy.”

I’m out of Emerson’s arms quicker than the Flash. Sprinting across the apartment that suddenly is way too big and into his open arms. He tugs me to him, and it feels like home. Everything about Callum is home.

“There will never be an after us.” He kisses the top of my head before drawing my chin upwards. Cal wipes away my tears and all the fears that I have. He kisses my forehead, then my lips. “Please don’t be cross at me. I needed a few extra days. And you know me, I worked, but my phone broke on a run.”

That untangles a small laugh from me.

I should never have doubted Cal. He’s never given me a reason to.

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