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Even if my heart is on the line.

Nick’s sheets slide softly over my bare legs. I turn on my side, staring at my phone charging on the bedside table. I’m not built for this confusion, this onslaught of feelings. I’m built for getting things done. For being the boldest, smartest, most prepared person in the room. For having sharp teeth.

Sharp teeth.

I curl my hand in my comforter. Why hasn’t he texted me yet?

It’s a few minutes past midnight when I pick up my phone. Rain patters the windows, cutting through the silence. I pull the charging cable out of my phone, stare into the white light of the screen, and tap Nick and I’s text conversation.

There’s an ellipsis at the bottom.

I sit up, my e-reader falling off the bed to the carpet below. The ellipsis disappears, appears, and disappears again.

He didn’t forget. He’s either writing a novel in our message screen or he’s purposefully drawing out the suspense. Or he’s having trouble with what he wants to say.

I don’t know why my heart is racing.

My thumbs walk across the screen of their own accord.

Sienna, 12:10 AM

You’re awake.

The ellipsis vanishes, popping out of existence as if I startled it. I stare at the screen, biting my nails. Then two messages come through.

Nick

You beat me to it.

Yeah. I haven’t been sleeping well.

Sienna

Why not?

Lying awake wondering how to get through the next month.

That makes two of us.

I scoot back against my pillows and tap out a reply, the light from my phone screen making me squint in the darkness.

Sienna

What are you thinking about?

Thedeliveredreceipt pops up beneath my message, and I wait. And wait. Rain drums against the window, droplets painting speckles of light on the curtains. Two minutes tick by before I see the ellipsis appear again.

Nick

You.

My breath gusts out, ruffling the hair hanging on either side of my face.

Nick

I shouldn’t be doing this.

Sienna