You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(10)

god that’s so embarrassing



I can’t believe I’ve been texting you this whole time



Don’t be embarrassed



I get it



Thanks for being so understanding. And sorry for the way I hung up too



You sort of sounded like him tbh



oh really?



Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

Just a little bit. It’s been a minute since I heard his voice



How old was he? If that’s okay to ask



he would have turned nineteen this year



We’re the same age then



He must be a freshman, too.

Where are you from?



I go to school in Seattle. But I’m from Bellevue



wbu?



Bellevue is about an hour away from here. At first, I think that’s too many coincidences. Then I remember we share the same area code, so it makes sense that he would live nearby.

I’m in Ellensburg



Central Washington university?



Yup. The Harvard of the Pacific Northwest



Is that right?



You know what they say, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere



Thought that was nyc



New York is overrated



Agreed



This is such a surreal conversation, seeing Sam’s name pop up on my phone again. Of course, I know it’s not him. I sit back on the bed, watching the three dots move as he’s typing. To my surprise, we talk for a while. He goes to the University of Washington, which is admittedly the better school. We ask each other about the different classes we’re taking. How the quarter is going so far. He’s majoring in astronomy, and possibly minoring in math, making me question my work ethic. I want to get to know him more. But eventually, he has to head off to dinner with some friends.

Have to go soon. It was nice to finally talk though



Yeah same



I should probably leave it there. But I want to say one more thing.

Thanks for picking up the phone btw



He takes a few minutes to respond. Then the text notification chimes again.

I’m glad you called



I know I already said this. But I’m sorry about your loss



I can tell you really cared about him



For a second, I forgot that he knows about Sam. About me, too. Yet I know so little of him.

I appreciate that. Have a great night



You too



The conversation ends. I lie in bed thinking about him for the rest of the night. I can’t help but read over our messages. I wonder if we’ll ever talk again. Every time I texted Sam’s number, I always imagined getting a response one day. But I never expected it to be from someone else.





Chapter

Three



I wake up late the next morning, which has become part of my routine. It’s the start of a new quarter, and I still need to figure out my schedule. There are a few courses I plan to shop this week. I’m hoping to get into one of those big lectures where I can sleep in the back row without anyone noticing.

Ethan is awake when I pull back my curtain. I can hear him through our flex wall, playing video games with music on in the background. There’s protein powder spilled all over the desk we use as a dining table. At least his boxers aren’t tossed on the floor again. But there are plastic bottles everywhere. I resist the urge to be his maid and clean up after him. So I leave it all there as I grab my phone and head to the bathroom.

There are a few messages from Julie. Copenhagen is nine hours ahead, making it difficult for us to talk on the phone. But it’s nice to wake up knowing there will be a text from her. Like she’s writing to me from the future.

Just stepped off the plane. Didn’t sleep a wink so I’m exhausted



Have a great first week!



Please don’t do anything you’ll regret



What’s that supposed to mean? If she thinks I can’t survive without her, then she shouldn’t have left. Admittedly, she has talked me out of a few bad decisions. Like purchasing an essay from a random website online. Or texting Nolan back when he wanted to talk things through. It’s going to be a tough few months without her here. I send her a response before heading to the shower.

I make no promises



How are the boys there?



Send me videos of your room already



It’s peak cherry blossom season. Petals are falling from the trees as I cut through the quad. I’m walking a little faster than usual. The psychology class I’m shopping starts in a few minutes, and I don’t want to be late on the first day.

I’ve never been in the psychology building before. The lecture hall is massive, lined with ten rows of seats that are filling up fast. I manage to find a spot in the middle as the professor writes something on the chalkboard. I don’t have the textbook yet, so I’m just listening as he goes over the syllabus for the course.

I’m not really paying attention though. I keep glancing at my phone, reading the conversation from last night. I still can’t believe someone else has Sam’s number. And I don’t even know his name. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about him. I wonder what he looks like. Part of me wants to send him another text. Ask him how his day is going or something. But that would be weird, right? I mean, we don’t even know each other. And it’s not like we’re friends or something. I should probably just forget about it.