Page 39 of Hate You Up Close

We spend the rest of the lunch hour finishing our meals and chatting like old friends.

Evie tells me all about this new guy she’s dating named Nate. She’s only been seeing him for a month, but she’s clearly head over heels for him. He’s supposed to go with us next week, so she’s ecstatic for me to meet him.

From what she tells me, he has curly hair, hazel eyes, and dimples that plague her in her sleep. I smile and nod as she gushes and swoons.

I love how easy everything is with Evie. Even having a conversation feels effortless with her. It doesn't feel forced or awkward like many other interactions do.

She asks me why I moved to Dallas, and because I feel a special connection to her, I tell her about my family and unconventional life. Once I finish, she reaches across the desk, taking my hand in hers as we both let a few tears slip down our cheeks.

I’ve never had this before, the feeling of close friendship outside of a romantic relationship. I never let myself get too close to people. I was always afraid of losing them when we moved to the next city.

But I might just have to keep Evie.

For the first time in weeks, I feel a tiny sliver of excitementand belonging. I’ve lived in countless different cities, but none of them have ever felt like home.

Maybe, just maybe, moving to Dallas was just what I needed.

Later that night,I’m lounging on my couch with Spooky curled in my lap while I watch the newest episode of Love Island. This show never ceases to amaze me. These people stop their entire lives in hopes of finding love on a tropical island in the span of a few short weeks.

We all know that it’s no different than a vacation fling. You meet a hot person, maybe hook up, but it never works once you get back to reality. I honestly just watch it for the drama.

I reach my hand into the bowl resting on the couch beside me before stuffing a handful of popcorn into my mouth.

Spooky nudges my hand with his rough nose, silently begging me for a piece.

“You can haveone,” I say, pinching a piece of popcorn between my fingers as he quickly takes it from me. “You got sick last time I gave you too much. Remember, buddy?”

He purrs as if to say yes before burrowing back down in my lap.

I pet the top of his fuzzy head as I reach for my phone on the coffee table. Just as I’m about to open up the Instagram app, my phone chimes with a call from an unknown number.

“Who the hell is calling me at ten o'clock at night?” I mumble to Spooky, as if he’s going to reply to my question.

I do this all the time, have full conversations with my cat.

It’s fine.I’m perfectly fine.

My head wants to dismiss the number asspam, but my heart tells me to answer. I get an eerie feeling that something is wrong.

Evie is the only person that I can think of who would be calling me at this hour. She said she was going to text me from her cell phone so I could save her number, but she hasn't messaged me yet. This could definitely be her, especially since it’s coming from a Dallas area code.

What if she’s in trouble? What if the new guy she’s obsessed with ended things with her?

Oh God.After the way she gushed about him at lunch, she would be devastated.

Without another thought, I answer and place the phone to my ear.

“Hello?”

“Uh…Hi,” a masculine voice answers. “Is this Roxanne?”

My brows furrow as my breath hitches.

There’s only one person who calls me Roxanne, and the unfamiliar voice doesn't sound like Elliot.

“Yes…This is her,” I reply hesitantly.

“Okay, good,” he rushes out, relieved. “Do you know Elliot?”