Three Times I Died, His Calls Unanswered

was dimly lit, all plush

he queen bee, surrounded by h

le in a shadowed co

ched

cktail – a complicated concoct

r her shoulders when she feigned a

up, "Chloe's enjoying herself,

of oohs

ling her!" one of Ch

prietary arm aro

oe, you and Marcus are so p

a picture of de

ust for a second. My fa

Chloe. "Soon. We'r

around them, a river of

ty game. "Truth or Dare, but

ne insistence, pulled me into the circle.

lost

one of Chloe's friends: "Kiss your

e turned to Chloe, cupped

ep

applauded,

stant distaste. The Ellie who would have

bly, it was m

your most recent

cipation went th

phone, my ex

d my me

id ❤️" followed by a

ave a 'David'? With hearts? A

a genuine,

month. In Florence. You're all we

away, my gaze m

unreadable. A muscle

sed myself to

ng in the hallwa

cked m

His voice was low, intense. "Is thi

Mom and Dad's memorial, and to invite you. I'd be honored if you'd walk

er, disbelief, somethin

h suppressed emotion. "Call this 'David

ut my phon

to voi

ght in Florence," I explai

sive sound. "Pathetic. Stop wit

d and wa

one vibrated. Da

Sorry, Ellie-bean, w

one. "Nothing, honey. Sorry fo

nytime," David said, his vo

the one you called 'Desert Bloom.' The one you always said was for your weddi

rt Bl

een-year-old heart

d, foolishly, b

or a fraction

d. "Okay. I'