Chapter 2: The Invitation

After I sent that message, there was radio silence for hours. My phone sat dead-quiet, the kind of silence that prickles under your skin, until finally Derek’s name lit up my screen.

I answered immediately, dialing up my sweetest voice: “Hey, babe! You calling me first? Do you have time to hang out this weekend?” Leaning against the kitchen counter, I pretended I was starring in a rom-com, but my heart was pounding.

Derek paused for several seconds before replying coldly, “Yeah. Didn’t you always want to meet my friends? I’ll take you to meet them this weekend.”

My fingers tightened around the phone, nails digging into my palm, but my voice stayed syrupy. The way he said it was pure frost, but I heard the challenge underneath—he never does anything without a reason, especially if his friends are involved.

“Huh?” I replied, keeping my tone perky. “Does this mean you’re warming up to me? Do you like me a little now? Are you thinking about marrying me?”

I let the questions tumble out, purposely playful, teasing at the edges of something real just to watch him squirm.

This time, Derek was silent even longer. I could almost hear his teeth grinding through the phone.

“Heh. Sure, just wait.”

He hung up on me right after that. Not even a goodbye—just a click, like I was a spam call. But I was used to his attitude and didn’t get mad.

You build up calluses after a while. I just rolled my eyes at the ceiling, thinking, Here we go again.

Heh, just putting on a show. Wait until I’ve gotten everything I can out of you—let’s see if you’re still so cool then. There’s always another act to play, and I know how to work the stage.