Rose:Okay, as much as I want to be annoyed that you’re following in Poppy’s sickening, lovey-dovey footsteps, Collin’s post is actually adorable.
My heart rate kicks up as I toggle over to my social media account to see what she’s referring to. I have dozens of notifications, which is rare. I’m a mostly inactive user—lurking but rarely posting or interacting. But I’ve been tagged in a post by @copcollinrattler.
I tap on the post he made less than ten minutes ago. It’s the sequence of pictures we took at the bowling alley. The first one is of the two of us, and he’s kissing my temple. I’m mid-laugh from his ridiculous Indiana Jones commentary, and his eyes are closed. His perfect eyelashes are fanned out over his cheek, and his lips and nose are pressed against my temple, like he’s giving me an adoring nuzzle. Thanks to the angle, the full effect of his jaw is on display, and I admit it’s a nice look for him. As for me…well, I look good too. And together, we could totally pass for a real couple. I blink a couple times when I read the caption.
“Bowling for keeps with this one. Happy Valentine’s Day, @NoliKasper.”
I tap over to my text string with Rose.
Noli:It was a really fun night.
It’s the truth, and it feels good to say it. I share Collin’s post, hoping the news of my boyfriend somehow filters through the interwebs to Nelson. I’ve blocked him, but I’m sure a mutual friend or two will fill him in.
I rest back in my bed as a swell of contentment rises in my chest. This is what I wanted. This is a good thing.
Rose:I can tell. Happy for you, sis!
Before I can respond, a new text message flashes on the top of my screen—this one from Collin.
Collin:Thanks again for coming out tonight after a long day. Hope it’s okay I posted that last photo.
What photo?
I toggle back and swipe through the carousal post to see the funny photo I took of Collin bent over in front of the lane. It really is priceless. The next image is of our scorecard, with ‘Doctor’ cropped out. And finally, he’s added a picture of just me. He snapped it after I officially won the game. I’ve just spun around from the lane. The pins are all on the ground in the background, and I have my hands lifted over my head, fists clenched, in the universal sign of victory. My cheeks are flushed, and I look…happy.
I’m stunned. It’s been so long since I’ve liked how I look in a photo, and Collin managed to take two shots of me tonight that I actually look good in. That, and I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen a photo of myself that captures me in a moment of unfiltered joy like this one does.
When was the last time I felt truly happy?
A surge of emotion catches in the back of my throat. I crawl under the covers again and grip my phone to my chest for a solid minute before texting Collin back. I delete and retype the message more times than I’m going to admit, but I finally settle on this:
Noli:Thank you for the fun. I actually really like that picture. Good night, Collin.
I go to set my phone on the table next to my bed, but it vibrates once more before I lie back down.
Collin:You look like you in it. Sweet dreams.
And for the first time in a long time, I fall asleep thinking about happy handwritten notes and texts instead of toxic ones.
14
Define So Bad
Noli ~ April
“Would you hurry up? I don’t want to be late.”
“Relax. We have an hour before our flight leaves. Plenty of time.”
I huff, coming to a stop outside yet another airport souvenir shop. I check my watch. Collin has a point. The flight doesn’t leave until nine o’clock, and it’s only eight o’clock. But still, boarding starts in twenty minutes.
“I had no idea I was dating one ofthosekinds of travelers.” Collin peeks around a carousel of Wisconsin-themed keychains. Cheeseheads. Badgers. Dairy farms, oh my!
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I swing my backpack around on my shoulder, double-checking that I have my photo ID and printed boarding pass.
“High strung.”
“I am not high str—”
