Page 122 of What We Brave
TRAITOR
Laine
Laine
see even blake thinks you're unhinged
Reid
I thought we were brothers
we are. that's why I'm tellingyou the truth.
Reid sends a string of middle finger emojis. Laine responds with crying-laughing faces. I lean against the workbench, thumb tracing the edge of a chisel I left out, watching the back-and-forth scroll by.
This is the part I never expected. Not the big stuff — the dates, the conversations, the kissing Laine goodnight while my heart tries to crack my ribs open. I expected that to be terrifying and it is.
It's this. The stupid jokes. The group chat. The way three people who should be a disaster somehow turned into... whatever we are.
Three weeks of dates with Laine. Real ones. Where we talk and I learn things about her I never knew — like how she can't stand the texture of mushrooms but loves the taste, so she picks every visible piece out of any dish. Or how she has a whole playlist of whale sounds she listens to when she's stressed. Or how her left eyebrow twitches when she's trying not to laugh.
I know the eyebrow thing because I've been watching her face like it's my job. Probably too much. Probably creepy. Add it to the list of things I'm doing wrong.
Three weeks of kissing her goodnight and walking away even when every cell in my body wants to stay.
She sets the pace. That's the rule I made for myself, and I will follow it until she tells me otherwise or I'm dead. After everything I did, everything I said — she gets to decide when and how and if.
Doesn't mean it's easy. Means it's right. There's a difference.
I pick up my phone again.
heading to portland. couple flea markets, maybe some antique stores. looking for a new project.
Reid
have fun, nerd
Laine
WAIT
can I come??
I stare at the screen. My hand goes to the center of my chestwithout thinking. That ache. The good kind. The kind I still don't know what to do with.
you want to dig through old junk with me?
Laine
YES
I love old junk
also I'm off today and my apartment is too clean and I'm bored
Reid
too clean. she says like that's a problem
