A chat.
D
That you, T?
T
In the flesh.
D
I made it to SF
Daniel went back to Sterling Falls? My heart squeezes.
T
How is everyone?
D
We’re staying on the DL. Holed up at K’s.
Down-low. Kora’s house.
T
I need to see you guys. This thing has a webcam
D
Ok. Give me a min.
I lean back in the chair and drum my fingers on the desk. My heartbeat is doing something weird, fluttering in my chest. It takes a long moment to pinpoint that I’m not anxious—it’s just plain old nerves.
Finally, Daniel replies with another link. I click it, redirected once more, and hitaccepton its request for access to my camera and microphone.
It isn’t Daniel who fills the screen when it connects, though—it’s Saint.
I immediately burst into tears.
Fuck the letters. This is better—and so, so much worse.
“Hey, wildcat,” he says softly.
“Hi,” I hiccup through my choked sobs. I pat at my cheeks and try to control my voice. “How are you?”
“As good as we can be.” His gaze burns into me. “When are you coming home?”
“I—” My mouth dries, and that fear takes hold. “I don’t know.”
“I miss you,” he says.
“Saint, I’m so sorry.” I lean forward. “How can you miss me after what I did?”
He grimaces. “Try to believe me when I say: I don’t hold it against you. Okay? And what I should’ve said before we left Starlight is that I’ve been falling in love with you for the past year. Nothing you could do would dissuade me.”
I cover my mouth.
