Page 65 of Fall for Me

I clapped the book shut. It was a nice thing for Seamus to do, but I wasn’t an artist anymore. I was Chelsea Kelly, event planner. Put-together woman.

But I could at least say thank you. I had his number, after all, on the card Joyce had given me.

With shaking hands, I pulled my phone from my bag. I’d left that in my bag, too. I had no one I wanted to call.

No one except Seamus, and I couldn’t do that.

But when I pulled out my phone, I was surprised to see several text notifications. I groaned. My sister, probably. It was Saturday, and if there was any day Cass and I could hang out, this would be it.

I unlocked my phone, noting that my battery was a single digit. I’d have to charge it in a second. But first, I tapped on my messages.

There was a message from Dad, asking if I wanted to have lunch on Sunday. I’d been putting him off—it was the third time he’d asked, so I typed a quick affirmation before scrolling to the other messages.

Sure enough, there were several from Cass, too. The first was from sometime yesterday afternoon, and the latest this morning, asking if I wanted to go for a walk today, or go for lunch, or anything really and please could I let her know? I admired her restraint at not coming over here and banging on the door. She was giving me my space, just like I’d asked, but I had to give her something.

I typed out a note, telling her I could go for a walk down by the river in an hour. Some time outside would do me good.

I was about to close my messages when I realized there was one more, this one from an unknown number.

My stomach flipped. Somehow, before I even opened it, I knew it was him.

UNKNOWN: I can’t not see you again. It’s impossible.

Then my phone died.

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