Chapter 16
LIVVI
By the time I got home, the smile still hadn’t left my face.
It felt silly, really, how something as small as setting up a fish tank could change the entire rhythm of my day. But Talon had laughed. Actually laughed. And for a few minutes, sitting cross-legged on his floor with a bag of gravel in my lap, I’d seen the tight lines in his face ease.
I changed into pajamas, made a cup of tea, and curled up on the couch with my laptop. Roxie wasn’t home, so the apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that could feel heavy if I let it. Instead, I let myself linger in that lightness for just a few more minutes before clicking over to ReadToLiv.
A message box popped up almost instantly.
TheWriteGuy
You have impeccable timing.
I grinned, setting my mug on the coffee table and typing back.
ReadToLiv
Good timing or bad timing?
TheWriteGuy
Good. I was about two minutes away from watching a documentary about ancient Egypt just to fill the silence.
ReadToLiv
Shouldn’t you be writing your next chapter?
TheWriteGuy
Don’t judge me. Hieroglyphics are fascinating.
Or more like I have writer’s block, and I’m desperate enough to pretend to be interested in Egyptian history.
I laughed softly and tucked my feet under me.
ReadToLiv
Is there anything I can do to help?
TheWriteGuy
Maybe talking about something completely random will get my brain warmed up.
ReadToLiv
Is this your way of continuing to procrastinate?
TheWriteGuy
Maybe …
But also my way of wanting to keep talking to you.
ReadToLiv
So you’re saying you want me to be your distraction?
I’d typed the words before I thought about what I was saying. Did that sound too flirty? Too bold?
TheWriteGuy
Very much so.
Okay, so definitely not too flirty or too bold, since his response seemed to welcome it.
I know I had just been excited about being with Talon and was now just as equally excited about talking with TheWriteGuy, but I couldn’t help it.
Each guy had a magnetic pull on me that I couldn’t seem to resist. I’d never thought of myself as someone who would let themselves get lost in someone else, but I was understanding how very real that could be with a certain type of person.
Which is why I had no intentions of ending my conversation with TheWriteGuy anytime soon. Even though I did need to get some work done before I went to bed.
ReadToLiv
Okay, tell me—what’s the weirdest rabbit hole you’ve ever fallen down online?
TheWriteGuy
Define weird.
ReadToLiv
The kind of thing where, halfway through, you realize it’s 2 a.m. and you’re reading about some obscure conspiracy theory you didn’t even know existed.
TheWriteGuy
Oh, that’s easy. Mongolian throat singing. Don’t ask me how I got there.
I nearly snorted my tea.
ReadToLiv
I wasn’t going to. But now I want to know if you tried it.
TheWriteGuy
I value my neighbors. And my dignity.
The smile on my face softened. It was easy with him, to just let the conversation flow until I was more relaxed than I’d realized I needed to be.
TheWriteGuy
What about you? What’s the strangest thing you’ve looked up?
ReadToLiv
Naming conventions.
TheWriteGuy
Like baby names?
ReadToLiv
Kind of. It started with baby names, but then I ended up reading about how some words just sound right for certain things. Linguists call it “sound symbolism.” You know, like how “fluff” sounds soft and “crash” sounds hard.
TheWriteGuy
There’s probably a whole science behind that.
ReadToLiv
There is. But honestly, it made me realize I’d be terrible at naming things. Seems easier to keep brainstorming, hoping at some point I get it right.
I hit send before I could overthink it, feeling oddly exposed by how true that was.
TheWriteGuy
That actually makes sense. Naming something feels permanent.
ReadToLiv
Exactly. Like if you name it wrong, you’re stuck with it forever.
TheWriteGuy
Which is why I have three different drafts with “Untitled” as the name. It took me forever to decide on the title Shadow, Smoke, and Mirrors.
ReadToLiv
Please tell me one of them is literally called “Untitled 3.”
TheWriteGuy
… I plead the fifth.
I laughed, the sound echoing softly in the apartment.
We stayed there for a while, tossing words back and forth, building a conversation that was both playful and weirdly comforting. And when we finally said good night, I closed my laptop feeling lighter—the same way I had when I’d left Talon’s apartment earlier.
Two completely different people. Two completely different connections.
And somehow, they were both starting to feel like something I didn’t want to lose.
The thought hit me hard enough that I sank back against the couch.
Because what did it mean that my heart did the same little flip over Talon’s rare real smiles as it did over TheWriteGuy’s late-night messages?
What did it mean that I wanted both?
The next afternoon, I was at work when my phone buzzed against my desk.
Talon
Fish survived the night.
I grinned, trying not to look too excited as I typed back.
Livvi
Excellent news. I was worried you’d already traumatized her with all your seafood talk.
His reply came quicker than I expected.
Talon
I’d never do anything to hurt Sharkira.
I laughed out loud, earning a curious look from my coworker across the room.
Livvi
Sharkira?
Talon
I was just trying it out. Too pop culture?
Livvi
Yeah, I don’t think it fits.
Talon
It would probably be easier to name her if you came over tonight.
I bit back a smile.
Livvi
Is that so?
Talon
Yep. Everyone knows naming a pet is best done together. Preferably while eating takeout. (Not sushi.)
Livvi
Now that you mention it, I think I have heard that.
I get off work at 5.
Unfortunately, the rest of the afternoon crawled by. My attention span was nonexistent, and by the time I shut down my computer, I’d reread the same email three times and still couldn’t have told anyone what it said.
I left work with a ridiculous smile plastered on my face and sat in my car for a minute before starting the engine. My thumb hovered over my video messaging app before I finally hit record.
“Okay,” I said into the front-facing camera, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “You are not going to believe this, Calico.”
I readjusted in my seat, propping my phone on the steering wheel so I could use both hands to talk, like I always did when I got excited.
“Remember that conversation I told you about the other day—the one where Talon admitted he was struggling with his dad’s lack of support and the pressure of swimming and making the Olympics before it’s too late?
” I grinned, unable to help myself. “Well, yesterday I showed up at his apartment with a fish.”
I paused for dramatic effect, then burst out laughing at Cali’s imaginary expression.
“Yes. A fish. Reminding him of my great advice per Dory, you know, ‘Just keep swimming.’ And he already had that big empty tank, so why not? So last night we got her all set up in his apartment.”
I was grateful no one could hear me. It was a tad embarrassing how excited I was.
“Okay, but here’s the kicker. He texted me today to tell me she survived the night—obviously, because she’s a fish, but it was cute—and then he invited me over tonight to name her.”
I made a face at my phone. “We’re apparently naming her together. While eating takeout. Which I am one hundred percent not overthinking. Except I definitely am.”
My smile softened as I leaned back in my seat.
“And, okay, this might sound crazy, but he’s …
different lately. Softer, I think? Less intimidating, sexy swimmer, more …
secretly has a good heart. And it’s messing with my brain a little, because at the same time, TheWriteGuy and I stayed up talking half the night.
I’m starting to feel like my life is turning into some kind of slow-burn romance novel, and that’s just crazy because that’s not reality and I don’t have time for … ”
I trailed off, heat creeping up my cheeks even though there was no one around to see me. “Anyway. That’s my update, and I’ll chat with you later.”
I ended the recording and tossed my phone onto the passenger seat before pulling out of the parking lot, my pulse fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement.
At home, I changed out of my work clothes three different times before settling on something casual-but-cute—jeans and a V-neck that made my eyes look more golden.
My reflection in the mirror looked a little too eager, but I told myself it was fine.
I’d just keep reminding myself this was a casual hangout. A perfectly normal fish-naming hangout.
When I walked out of my room, Roxie was standing at the kitchen counter, cutting up an apple with the precision of someone who had way too much time on her hands.
She’d grown up with every luxury and convenience, and now that she was trying to do things on her own, she was learning how to fill her days—and figure out independence—without her family stepping in.
She glanced up, her gaze flicking to my outfit, causing one perfectly sculpted eyebrow to arch. “Where are you going?”
I took a breath and tried for casual. “Just over to Talon’s for a bit.”
Roxie’s knife froze mid-slice. “Talon? As in so-sexy-it-should-be-illegal swimmer Talon?”
“He’s not that sexy,” I said automatically, then winced. “Okay, maybe he is. But he’s more than just his looks and talent once you get to know him.”
Her mouth curved into a slow grin. “Uh-huh. And you just happen to be getting to know him while looking like you’re about to star in a dating-app commercial?”
I grabbed a throw pillow off the couch and tossed it at her. She ducked easily, laughing.
“We’re just naming his fish,” I insisted, heading toward the door.
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Roxie called after me.
“Rox!” I groaned, but I was smiling as I grabbed my purse.
Checking my phone, I saw that I had a new text message.
Cali
If you don’t name that fish something epic, we can’t be friends. Also, I need updates. Regular ones. I know you’ve been busy, but don’t leave me hanging!
I grinned, knowing she’d be impatiently waiting for my next update.
“Don’t wait up!” I called back through the apartment.
Roxie’s singsong voice followed me out the door. “Tell your boyfriend I said hi!”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips as I headed down to my car.
To Talon Everhart’s apartment.
To name our fish.
I wasn’t sure what parallel universe I was living in, but I wanted to move here. Permanently.