37. look behind you

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"Hey."

"Who is this?"

"Take a guess, Nessa. The sexy baritone of my voice suggests a superhuman level of hotness."

"Nico? How the hell did you get this number? Where are you?"

"A special someone thought I'd make good use of it. I'm currently headed to a place I will probably remember for the rest of my life."

"I can never figure you out."

"Did you miss me?"

"I..."

"Please, Nessa. After cutting off all contact with me, after ripping poor Nico's heart into tiny little pieces, after depriving me of your voice for over three months... did you miss me?"

"...of course I missed you, you idiot. I thought of you all the time."

"You hurt me."

"I know. And you hurt me."

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too."

"You can't control your feelings. I should've been more understa—"

"I know, Nessa. I know."

"I should've been better. You... mean a lot to me."

"Your voice makes me feel calm. I'd fall asleep if I wasn't so focused on my destination right now."

"Yours makes me feel alive."

"I have a secret to tell you."

"Hit me."

"I know who Client Lover Boy is."

"Nice one. How would you? He's my mom's—"

"His name is Nico Antonio."

"I— What?! Are you seriously suggesting—"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting."

"Hold on, give me a second to wrap my mind around this."

"As a wise woman once told me: take your time."

"So your therapist is my mom."

"Yes."

"And your ex-girlfriend is my best friend."

"Yes. Gosh, life is feeling extra repetitive today."

"And... oh my God..."

"You good?"

"Oh my God, Nico... that means... that means the teacher, he's—"

"You don't have to say it."

"I don't think I can."

"It's a lot."

"It's too much."

"Listen to me carefully, Nessa. If you don't think you could be with me and be comfortable because of this, I will leave you alone. Just say the words, but if your mouth opens any wider, bugs will start coming in any second."

"How did you know my mouth was open?"

"I can't believe I'm here."

"Where?"

"I mean it's not like my type was strictly blondes, but Jesus... brunette has never been so unbelievably beautiful to me."

"Bordering on creepy, buddy. You'd better tell me what the heck you're on about."

"Do you often just lay in the sand like that? Staring at the sky?"

"How... how do you know...? Are— are you here?!"

"Wow, you swung your head so fast just then I almost thought it would pop off."

"Nico... you're here, aren't you? At the beach."

"Yep. And you're everything I imagined and more. Holy shit."

"This is unfair. You can see me and I can't see you."

"Do you want to see me?"

"...more than anything."

"Look behind you."

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yall can try as hard as you want to try and express what you're feeling rn in mess of capitalised letters but i can ASSURE you it will never compare with the scream i let out after finishing this chapter

WE. ARE. SO. CLOSE.

im trying to kill you guys with suspense i hope its working ; )

Don't forget to vote!

xoxo, Sierra