Ray Maddox — One Year Later — POV
"She's not gonna stop, is she?" Austin asked, watching my phone light up for the fifth time in three minutes.
I didn't look up from my laptop. "Nope."
Another ping.
Another message.
> Sky: "Did you drink water?"
Sky: "That monster doesn't count."
Sky: "Ray. Please. Hydration is important. I googled it."
Sky: "Also, are you okay? You seemed quiet earlier."
Sky: "Don't tell me it's because I left your hoodie at my place, you can come get it—"
Sky: "Okay now I'm spiraling. I'll stop."
Sky: "Wait. Did you eat?"
Sky: "Please eat something. Or I'm bringing you soup."
I didn't answer. I just smiled.
And finally replied:
> Ray: "Kitten."
Ray: "Breathe."
Ray: "I'm okay."
Ray: "And I ate."
Ray: "Did you?"
My phone lit up instantly.
> Sky: "YEAH… I mean. No. I forgot. I was waiting for your reply."
Sky: "You're annoying, Ray Maddox."
Sky: "But I love you."
I closed my laptop.
I had papers due. A meeting in an hour. My dad would kill me if I blew off another appointment. But I was already grabbing my keys.
"Where are you going now?" Austin asked.
I just looked at him. "She didn't eat."
That was all I needed.
---
Sky opened the door still in her favorite hoodie of mine — the one that swallowed her whole — and a messy ponytail, one sock on, the other foot bare. She looked like chaos. And she still looked like home.
"You came," she whispered, arms immediately wrapping around my middle like she'd never let go.
I kissed the top of her head. "Of course I did."
"I told you I was fine," she murmured into my chest.
"Yeah, but I don't trust you."
"You trust me enough to keep me secret for a whole year."
Oof. That one hit. I pulled back just enough to see her eyes.
"I hate it," I admitted. "Every goddamn day. Not telling people you're mine."
Sky smiled that soft, radiant, painfully sweet smile. "It's okay. As long as you know I'm yours."
"I know," I said, pulling her into my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist as I sat down on her tiny dorm couch. "And I'm yours."
She touched my face gently. "Did you drink water, though?"
I groaned. "Sky—"
"Just asking!"