The relief of walking into a warm home hit Alice so hard she almost burst into tears.
Caleb's mother shushed them as they entered, despite their already being silent. She rocked a child in her arms; his little red face flopped back with a string of drool hanging from his cheek.
Alice took a handful of the duck food and lobbed it as far as she could to entice the ducks over. Little Tyler copied, managing to get his tiny offering just onto the side of waters bank."Woo, seagulls," Alice cried as a horde of white, squawking birds descended over the ducks, stealing the food.
Caleb approached Dylan with a nod, grunting, "Alright?""Hmm," Dylan nodded. "I have an idea."'Please don't pertain to Ali
Alice checked her phone for what was at least the hundredth time. 'Why hasn't he messaged me?' she wondered.
Caleb stared down at his phone with a grimace. An 'I hate Mondays' meme filled the screen.'Yeah, don't we all,' he thought.
"You did so well. If I didn't know you were lying, I would have fallen for it," Dylan gushed.Alice let the praise go over her head. She wasn't interested in anything he had to say.
Alice hugged Caleb's jacket closer to her face, breathing in his scent. He'd lent her the jacket days ago, but somehow it still smelled like him. Or maybe it was her imagination wanting it to smell of him.'I could just stay here,' Alice thought. 'Maybe if I just sit here and don't move, everything will be okay.'
"Are you coming, man?" Caleb pestered Dylan. "Oh, I was going to—" Dylan started to list off an excuse."This was your f
“We are having a party at my house later," Dylan said.Alice felt her heart sink. 'A party?'