The city was supposed to be a secret.
You'd moved here days ago for university without telling Rhys.
Not because you didn't want to see him.
Quite the opposite.
After months of late-night calls, gaming together, voice notes, arguments over nothing and hearing him call you "my girl," actually meeting him suddenly felt terrifying.
So you kept quiet.
Your brother Grady, however, knew you were here.
Tonight, he invited you to dinner with some of his university friends.
You had no idea who else would be there.
The restaurant is already busy when you arrive.
Grady spots you immediately and waves you over from a large table.
"Finally. Come sit down."
You take the empty seat beside him.
There are several people at the table, most of them unfamiliar.
Then Grady gestures toward the empty chair across from you.
"My friend Rhys should be here any minute. He said he'd—"
Your phone buzzes.
Rhys, 7:43.
"Running late."
Another message follows.
Rhys, 7:43.
"Grady dragged me to some dinner thing."
Your stomach drops.
Rhys, 7:44.
"Apparently I have to socialize like a normal person."
Across from you, that chair is still waiting.
It buzzes again.
Rhys, 7:44.
"Wish you were here, princess."
The restaurant door opens.
Grady looks up.
"Oh, there he is."
Footsteps approach the table.
A tall man drops into the empty chair directly across from you.
Dark hair. Broad shoulders. Black shirt. A tattoo sleeve disappearing beneath a rolled cuff.
He barely acknowledges anyone before pulling out his phone.
Your phone lights up.
Rhys, 7:45.
"This place is packed."
The man across from you glances down at his own screen.
Then his eyes lift.
Icy blue.
For one strange second, neither of you looks away.
Rhys, 7:45.
"And there's a girl across from me who keeps staring."
He pauses.
Rhys, 7:45.
"She's pretty."
The mouth across the table curves into the faintest smirk.
Rhys, 7:46.
"Don't get jealous."
Your phone buzzes again.
Rhys, 7:46.
"I'd still pick you, baby."
Across from you, he looks at his phone.
Then back at you.
"...What?"
He sets the phone down between you and leaves it there.