Page 25 of Captured Immune

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

I’d like to think I can wait until the sun rises to start my new plan, but I’m too impatient for that, so I stand at the kitchen counter with my phone on speaker.

My heart pounds with each ring Arella doesn’t pick up. I know it’s late, but I had to give it a shot. Maybe she’s still up. Maybe she?—

“Hello?”

My breath hitches at the sound of her voice. “Arella?”

“Yeah?” She doesn’t sound like she’s been sleeping. Not that I would have felt bad for waking her up anyway.

“Um, it’s me.”

“I know. There’s a really cool feature on phones nowadays where a person’s name pops up whenever they call.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d pick up since it’s so late.”And because of the way we ended things this morning.

“You’ve got a bad habit of making calls outside of regular-people hours, don’t you?”

“That’s only with my uncle.”And Liz.

“Is everything okay?” She sounds genuinely concerned. I hate when people give a fuck about me, because I don’t deserve anyone’s concern. But when it comes to Arella, I want her to give all the fucks in the world.

“Not really.”Nothing’s okay when I’m apart from you.

“What’s wrong?”

The words fly out of my mouth before my brain can register that I’m even saying them. “I miss you.”

It takes her a few heartbeats to respond. When she does, it sounds tearful. “I miss you too.”

I can’t hide my shock. “You do?”

“I do.”

Those two words give me so much hope. “I want you back, Arella.”

A long pause, then she clears her throat. “Are you drunk again?”

“Nope. I’m completely sober.”

“You really want me back? Even after I told you that I slept with a guy from college?”

Ouch.I could have gone forever and a day without ever hearing her admit that out loud again. I choke up a little. “Are you done with him?”

She only hesitates for a second. “Yeah.”

“Like, completely? You don’t plan to ever see him again? Or talk to him?”

“No.”

“Ever?”

“Ever.”

Maybe it’s stupid of me, but I believe her. “Do you think you can forgive me for being a dick to you?”

“I already have.” The way she doesn’t miss a beat gives me confidence that she means it. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”

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