Meeting Her

Peach Salinger.

Just as Reggie’s lips are about to meet mine, the door to the apartment swings open, and Marienne’s voice breaks the spell. “Hey, guys, I—”

Reggie and I jump apart like guilty teenagers caught doing something we shouldn’t. My face burns with embarrassment as I turn to face Marienne, who stands frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide.

“I… uh…” Marienne stammers, clearly at a loss for words.

Reggie clears his throat and takes a step back, running a hand through his hair. “I was just… getting my hamster cage,” he says, his voice a little too casual.

I can’t even look at him. My heart is still pounding in my chest, and I know my cheeks are flushed. I feel exposed, and I hate it. I hate that he got to me, that he almost—almost—made me forget why I’ve been trying to keep my distance.

Marienne, sensing the awkwardness, quickly tries to smooth things over. “Right, of course,” she says, forcing a smile. “I’ll make dinner, by the way.”

“Great,” Reggie says, his voice straine