CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162

Kira’s POV

I was lying on the couch, Mitchell curled up on the opposite end, both of us sulking in our own ways.

Mitchell was mad because Olivia hadn’t been home all day. I was worried because Olivia hadn’t answered her phone for hours.

Finally, finally, she’d texted back about thirty minutes ago: At hospital. Electrocuted. I’m fine. Coming home soon.

Electrocuted. Like that was just a casual, everyday occurrence.

At least she was okay. At least I could stop imagining worst-case scenarios and focus on something more pleasant.

Like Eddy.

I couldn’t help the lovesick smile that spread across my face as I looked at my phone, reading through our latest message thread.

Eddy: Missing you already. Wish I could hold you right now.

Me: You’ve literally been texting me for the past two hours. How can you miss me?

Eddy: Because two hours of texting isn’t enough. I need infinity with you.

God, he was so cheesy. So ridiculously, wonderfully cheesy. And I was eating it up like a starving woman at a buffet.

We’d only been dating for three days. THREE DAYS. But it felt like so much longer. Like we’d known each other for years instead of just starting this thing. He’d randomly texted me last week, and when I’d asked how he got my number, he’d replied it was from a close friend.

I hadn’t told Olivia yet. Partly because everything had been so chaotic lately, but mostly because I knew how it would sound: "Hey Liv, I’m dating a guy I’ve never met in person who won’t show me his face but sends me romantic texts and nice gifts."

Yeah, that definitely didn’t sound like the beginning of a true crime documentary at all.

But I couldn’t help it. I was falling. Hard. Fast. Probably way too fast for someone with my usual level of common sense.

Yesterday, when Olivia had mentioned the lunch meeting with Kennedy, I’d been torn. What if Kennedy shows up again, and my feelings for him intensifies? What then will happen to Eddy?

There was just something about Eddy. The way he texted, the things he said, how he seemed to understand me in ways most people didn’t. It was impossible it to fall for him.

Sure, there were concerns. Like the fact that I’d never seen his face. Or heard his voice. Or knew literally anything concrete about him beyond what he chose to share.

He could be a catfish, the reasonable part of my brain warned. He could be some fat, nerdy kid behind a computer screen, living in his mom’s basement, playing games all day.

But then I remembered the photo he’d sent three days ago - the one that had finally convinced me to say yes when he asked me out.

It was just his torso. Shirtless. From his neck down to just above his waistline, carefully cropped to exclude his face.

But God, what a torso.

Defined abs. Broad shoulders. Lean muscle. The kind of body that made my mouth go dry and my brain shut down.

That’s not a catfish body, I’d told myself. That’s real. He’s real. I’d tried to convince myself, even though I wasn’t hundred percent sure.

I’d begged him to show me his face. Pleaded. Offered to send more pictures of myself in exchange.

But he’d gently refused.

Eddy: Soon, beautiful. I promise you’ll see all of me soon. But right now, I need to keep this part private. Trust me?

And somehow, against all logic and reason, I did trust him.

Maybe I was an idiot. Maybe I was setting myself up for the world’s most embarrassing disappointment.

But these past three days had been pure bliss. The constant texts throughout the day.

The thoughtful gifts that showed up at my door - flowers, chocolates, a beautiful necklace I was currently wearing. The way he made me feel special.

Eddy: What are you thinking about right now?

Me: You. Always you. I’m hopeless.

Eddy: Not hopeless. Just in love. And that’s exactly where I want you.

My heart actually fluttered. Like some ridiculous romance novel heroine, my heart actually fluttered at words on a screen.

I’m in so much trouble, I thought, grinning at my phone. This man is going to destroy me.

But what a way to go.

I was still texting when I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock.

I immediately dropped my phone, sitting up straight as the door opened.

"Liv!" I jumped up from the couch, ready to drill my best friend about how she needed to stop almost dying...

But the words died in my throat when I saw her.

She looked... terrible.

Her hair was a mess. Her clothes were in disarray. Her face was pale and drawn, with dark circles under her eyes. And she was moving slowly, carefully, like every step hurt.

But it was her expression that really got me. She looked devastated. Not just tired or in pain, but genuinely, deeply upset about something.

"Liv? What happened? Are you okay?"

She looked at me, and I watched as her face crumpled.

"He left me," she whispered. "My stranger. He just... he left me."

And then she started crying.

Tears streamed down her face as she sank to the floor, her whole body trembling. Mitchell padded over immediately, meowing softly before curling into her lap.

"Oh, Liv," I murmured, kneeling beside her and wrapping my arms around her. "What do you mean he left? The mystery guy?"

She nodded weakly against my shoulder. "I was in his car. We fought and - he drove away. He didn’t come back."

"What happened? Why did you guys fight?"

She gave a broken laugh that turned into a sob. "I was complaining about Maxwell, and when it seemed he was taking his side, I scared him off. Just like that."

Mitchell pawed at her arm, rubbing her head against Olivia’s hands. Olivia in turn, slipped her hand through her fluffy furs.

"Okay," I said, trying to keep my voice light even as my chest ached for her. "First, you didn’t scare him off. Men are weird. If he likes you that much, he’ll come back to you."

She sniffled, managing a tiny, shaky smile. "Thanks Kira. I can’t believe you’re actually comforting me over something as ridiculous as this. You should be scolding me for crying over a man I don’t even know."

"I can’t scold you over that honey, you’re a big girl." I said with a warm smile.

How can I even scold her when I’m in the same situation as her. Mine is even worse because I’ve never met him, or heard his voice.

I sat beside her on the couch again, letting her lean against me as she stroked Mitchell’s fur.

For a brief moment, everything was quiet.

I glanced at my phone on the coffee table - the screen still glowing with Eddy’s message. Just in love. And that’s exactly where I want you.

A strange chill ran down my spine.

Olivia’s stranger had left her heartbroken. And here I was, falling headfirst for a man who hid his face.