You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(16)

Hey. Sorry for the late reply



Was caught up in lab all day. But just got home



What are you up to?



For a second, I thought he had forgotten about me. I want to reply immediately, but I don’t want to seem desperate. Maybe I’ll find somewhere to sit down before I answer. I cross the street and head into town. Sun and Moon doesn’t look too packed today. The Moroccan lamps never give the place enough light. I order a pastry and find a table in the corner. Then I glance at my phone again. It’s been twenty-three minutes since Ben texted me. Honestly, that’s long enough.

No worries!



finished my last class for the week



my roommate kicked me out of our room



so I’m seeking shelter until I’m allowed back



I’m not expecting a quick reply. But he answers within seconds.

Oh that’s brutal



You’re telling me



There goes my afternoon nap



Currently in bed right now



But no time for a nap either. Have to get back to lab soon



Just enjoying a few minutes of freedom



You’re not really selling this major



There are better days than others. I messed up my experiment earlier and have to redo the whole thing. Also forgot my journal with all my notes



Sorry, I don’t usually complain this much



Don’t worry. I’m sure my day was worse



Did you also contaminate your cell culture?



No but close



Feel free to elaborate



Don’t want to bore you with my lore



I promise you won’t bore me



I always enjoy your texts



I probably shouldn’t tell him about Nolan. But maybe it’s not that big of a deal. I mean, he knows so much about me already, right?

Just ran into my crazy ex. That’s all



Oh



You have my attention



It’s not a big deal. Just haven’t seen him in a while



Sounds like you’re not on speaking terms



It’s honestly for the best



I get that



I ended things with someone recently too



Sorry to hear



It’s alright. We were only together a few weeks



So I wouldn’t really consider him an “ex”



So he was dating another guy. That means he’s gay, too.

How long were you guys together?



Five months



Can I ask why you broke up?



It’s a long story



Maybe I’ll tell you another time



building the suspense I see



It’s not a very good ending. I can tell you that much



But enough about my love life. Tell me more about this cell culture



You mean the mold I’m growing? Riveting stuff really



I smile at the change of subject. We continue texting back and forth. Ben tells me he lives in his own apartment off campus. It’s unusual for first years, but he managed to finesse things with the housing office. He asks what my plans are for the rest of the week. There’s always a few parties happening in the dorm. But I haven’t decided if I’m going yet.

If I stop responding, it just means I fell asleep



Don’t you have to get back to lab?



Yeah but my eyes won’t stay open



You should take a nap if you’re that tired



Maybe you’re right



Could you text me in an hour if I don’t wake up?



Setting my alarm now



I smile at our conversation. Ben doesn’t respond after that, which makes me think he did fall asleep. I’ll remember to check in on him in an hour. Then I finish my drink and head out of the café.





Chapter

Five



Ben and I have been texting each other more and more lately. Between classes, during lunch, even at the library when I should be studying. It’s nice having someone to talk with throughout the day. We have each other’s schedules memorized now. Ben is taking four classes, five days a week, with Astronomy Club every Wednesday. I don’t know how he finds the time to respond to me with his workload. Even on exam nights, we’ll fall asleep texting each other.

I asked if we could follow each other on Instagram. But Ben isn’t on any social media platforms, except Twitter, which he hasn’t used in years. You can barely see him in the profile picture—he’s standing far away from the camera, facing the ocean. Thankfully, I found a better picture of him online. It’s from a school news article, announcing a scholarship he was awarded senior year. He doesn’t look like someone you would find in a lab. He has soft brown eyes, with a sharp jawline, and his dark hair reminds me a little of Sam’s. He has the shoulders of a varsity tennis player, which is confirmed in the article I’m reading.