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My phone buzzes loudly against the wooden table, jolting me. Halle’s face flashes on the screen.

“Guess what?!” she squeals on the other end when I answer.

“What?” I ask slowly.

“My lawyer just called. Richard’s family isn’t pursuing the case anymore. The police are dropping the case!”

Her words don’t register right away.

“It’s over, Alex!” she squeals on the other end.

It’s like my entire body has gone into shock, the strange weight on my chest lifting so quickly I feel like I have whiplash.

“W-what?”

“Look, I’m about to meet someone so I can’t talk for long, but I had to tell you. I know you had something to do with it, so … thank you. I know I was a bitch to you and I’m sorry for that.”

My chest tightens with a mix of relief and disbelief, tears threatening to break free. “No, Halle. You were right to be mad at me. I’m just glad this is over.”

“Me too.” Her voice softens. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure,” I manage.

The call ends, but my fingers are already moving to call someone I’ve had enough self-control not to call the entire day, but with Halle and Professor Hawthorne, I can’t help myself. As confusing as whatever is going on between us is, I still want to be close to him, still want to give into that gravitational pull between us.

“Alex?” Rowan’s voice is gravelly when he answers.

“Hey,” I say, swallowing. “Where are you?”

“Home?” he says slowly, phrasing it like a question. I look at the time on my screen. It’s almost eleven in the night. Where did the time go?

I wince. “Sorry, I didn’t realise how late it is.”

I feel like an idiot.

“What’s going on?” he asks. There is a muffled sound of shuffling on the other end—sheets rustling.

“Nothing,” I say too quickly. “I just…” I trail. What did I want exactly?

To give into the gravitational pull…

Right.

I swallow. “Halle’s case has been dropped. I wanted to say thank you since you know…” I trail. “So, uh, yeah. Thanks.”

He’s quiet for a second, and I begin to panic although I’m not sure why.

“Where are you?” Rowan asks finally.

“Home. And I—” I pause. “I found something on Haze. Can I see you? Tomorrow, I mean. It doesn’t have to be now.” I’m barely coherent.

“It can be now,” Rowan says. “I’ll come to you.”

“No,” I say too quickly. “I’ll uh—I’ll come to you. I need the drive anyway.” That last part is not a lie. I’ve been in the same position for the entire day, only moving to eat. A drive will calm my nerves and hopefully ease the heat pooling in the pit of my stomach right now.

“All right,” Rowan says easily, and I hate how calm he is when I sound like I’ve forgotten how to breathe. “See you soon, Alex.”

“Yeah. See you soon.”