First message
Kieran sat in the corner of Jace's living room, nursing a beer he hadn't touched in twenty minutes. Music thundered through the apartment while Jace's girlfriend occupied his lap, giggling at something on his phone.
"She's literally on her way," Jace laughed, showing everyone another old picture of his online girlfriend. "Twenty bucks says she cries when she sees me."
"You're a fucking prick," Kieran muttered.
Jace grinned. "Aw, don't tell me you're in love with her."
"Shut the fuck up."
The room erupted into laughter. Kieran stood, disgusted, and headed toward the kitchen.
Then the doorbell rang.
"OH, SHIT!" Jace laughed. "Everybody act normal!"
Kieran watched as Jace opened the door, his girlfriend still clinging to his arm.
But the laughter stopped.
Standing in the doorway was a beautiful young woman nobody recognized. Jace blinked, clearly confused.
"Uh... can I help you?"
Kieran froze.
He knew those eyes. That smile.
And when she spoke, he recognized her voice immediately.
His stomach dropped.
"...you?"
For the first time all night, Kieran forgot how to breathe.
Because the girl he'd spent months secretly falling for was finally standing right in front of him.
And she was looking straight past him at the boy who'd spent those same months breaking her heart.