Page 116 of Shattering

"Americano, no sugar, right?" she asked, her cheeks tinged pink.

He blinked, then smiled. "That's right."

She rang him up, and he handed her a few extra coins. "Keep the change."

"Oh—thank you!" she stammered, flustered.

As he walked out, he felt something odd—lighter. Like maybe, just maybe, things weren't so bleak.

His phone buzzed again. A number he hadn't seen in years but had never been able to delete.

Gray.

His breath caught. His hand shook slightly as he lifted the phone to his ear. "Gray?"

There was a pause. Then a gruff, familiar voice. "We're planning a party. Tomos made it to the junior rugby training league. He wants you to come."

Callum closed his eyes. Hope flickered in the dark corners of his mind.

"Yeah," he said, voice rough. "I'd like that."