Page 16 of Beautifully Broken

Enid

I can’t stop thinking about the fact that I almost let Conrad Hoyer kiss me at Shell Shock’d yesterday.

No one was around, and his presence was light and easy.

I felt like I could talk to him for hours, the persona in the media a stark contrast to the version of Conrad who’s been trying to get to know me for almost a month.

Pulling out my phone, I type Conrad’s name into the search bar, and his profile immediately pops up.

A perfectly curated media page, game pics, team events, and the occasional photo with a family member or teammate on a holiday.

None of this screams Playboy. I let my finger hover over the follow button, saying to no one in particular, “Just do it, Enid, it won’t hurt anything. ”

“Fuck it.” I once again say out loud to no one before pressing the follow button and then returning to my nightly doom scroll.

As I’m scrolling, I get a notification at the top of my screen, ‘Conrad Hoyer has requested to follow you’, well, that was fast. I accept the follow request and continue my scrolling once again.

‘Conrad Hoyer has sent you a message’ pops up next. I contemplate ignoring him, but curiosity gets the better of me, and I open his message.

Conrad Hoyer: I knew you couldn’t stay away.

Me: In your dreams, Hoyer.

Conrad Hoyer: If I’m dreaming, I don’t want to wake up.

Me: I’ll be your worst nightmare.

Conrad Hoyer: Nightmares make me horny.

What the fuck is wrong with this guy? I find myself laughing lightly at his shenanigans, though.

Me: You need therapy.

Conrad Hoyer: Don’t we all?

Me: Eh, probably. What do you want?

Conrad Hoyer: You, obviously.

Me: *eye roll*

Conrad Hoyer: I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable yesterday. That wasn’t my intention.

Me: You didn’t, I just wasn’t expecting you to try and kiss me. Yesterday was…

Conrad Hoyer: Please say nice… please say nice.

Me: It was fine. I didn’t hate it.

Conrad Hoyer: I’ll take it. Does Mace know I visited?

I laugh because if Mace knew, he would probably kill me. Then I think a little more, and he’s my little brother, and I’m an adult, so he can’t stop me from talking to someone.

Me: No. He would demolish me.

Conrad Hoyer: Fair enough. So, Enid.

Me: What is it that you are skirting around, Hoyer?

Conrad Hoyer: I’m going to ask you one more time if I can take you on a date. If you say no again, I will accept it. I desperately don’t want to believe that you just don’t want to give me a chance.

He’s not wrong, but I haven’t spent time with anyone romantically since Mace came into my care two years ago. Thinking about spending it with someone who has a history of breaking hearts makes the nerves even worse, yet somehow, I am incredibly drawn to Conrad.

Me: Yes, okay, but I won’t promise to be nice.

Conrad Hoyer: I wouldn’t have it any other way, Bubbles. *winky face*. Saturday, I’ll pick you up at 7.