I scrolled up. The entire chat history had been wiped clean.
But that single message was enough to keep me up all night.
Clay came out of the bathroom, towel around his shoulders. He saw me staring at his phone, and something flickered across his face. "What are you looking at?"
"Who's Juliana?"
His hand paused mid-stroke, toweling his hair. Then he laughed. "A coworker. New girl in the marketing department. What, jealous?"
He walked over and wrapped his arms around me. He smelled like body wash, clean and warm.
That scent. It suddenly felt unfamiliar.
"She said you helped her pick out a gift."
"Yeah, her boyfriend's birthday is coming up. She asked me to tag along, help her decide. She just moved to Graystone City, doesn't know anyone yet, so I've been looking out for her." He pinched my cheek. "What's going on in that head of yours? Me and her? Seriously?"
I looked into his earnest eyes and swallowed the words then why did you delete the chat history?
Five years. He'd started pursuing me junior year of college. Chased me for a full year before I said yes.