Since We Last Spoke Book Novels & Stories

I got in at past midnight, so seeing the time made me realize this was the longest I’d slept in a while. It’s been three weeks since the day Sammy and Liam’s friends were over at the apartment, meaning it’s been three weeks since Liam and I last spoke to each other. It’s honestly been so funny and crazy. We haven’t had a reason to be out publicly together in that time, so we’ve been able to take that time off from our pretense.

Still grinning, we sat on the stools just like old times. Jett placed down a bottle of beer for him. “Not in trouble, as far as I know, not in a wanted list either, Jack Reacher.” I laughed. When was the last time I laugh like this? We talked over the phone, exchanged emails, but not like this. I missed the old times when we were just screwing around, partying, and not caring about tomorrow. The last time I met him was three years ago with Lorcan, but we were busy enjoying the London night. Scratched that. I was totally pissed most of the time to even remember.

He looked at his watch and his eyes grew three sizes. ”19:30, wow,” He said and I freaked out. We had ordered coffee from the cafe next door and eaten baked goods and bagels for hours, talking about books. We had staked a few piles of books that we brought out to share with each other and It had been so fun. ”I think it’s time to head back home,” I said with a smile. Thomas nodded his head in agreeance and we started putting all the books back in their place. As we were walking out of the book store I made sure to say goodbye to Ms. Porter.

“Anyway, how are you? How is school?” “I miss you so much! I’m doing good, just crazy with mid-terms coming up. How’re you? Oh, I’ve read your last book, Black Hole. I finally had the time to do it. I binge-read just FYI,” Stella is still Stella, just as cheerful as always. Her joyful voice helps calm down my nerves and even manages to bring a smile to my lips.

I elaborated. "The last time we spoke was back when we were in Lucland. The tone of this message seems off, as if we've been in frequent communication. Additionally, she isn't aware that I've recovered my line, so she would likely have sent the message to Charlotte's phone to ensure I received it. Sophia wouldn't risk sending a message to a line that might still be switched off," I concluded, and Charlotte nodded in agreement. My thoughts might not have been entirely clear, but I had a gut feeling that I was onto something.

I haven’t seen her for about four years but we talk almost daily over our own personal radio connection. “I just took out Leopold Braid, what did you do this morning?” I brag into the radio; we might be friends but we both know that women like us are only as good as our most recent kill. I don’t worry about anyone overhearing us; the line is encrypted and backed up daily so we can both speak freely. We both live a lonely life; these short talks are the closest thing we have to connecting with family.

chapter 19✍ As I flopped onto my bed, I couldn’t help but think about Kay. It had been four days since we last spoke, and it felt like an eternity. We usually talked or texted each other every day, but this time, the silence between us was deafening. I picked up my phone and scrolled through our last conversation, feeling a pang of guilt for not reaching out to him sooner. I was supposed to reach out to him and talk him out of whatever was in his head, but I had been so busy.

"It's Saturday. I'm working upstairs. I like my guys upstairs." He chuckles and I smile. We had spoken every day from the end of June, all through July and now, the beginning of August. And some of the time, we hardly knew what to talk about. Sometimes we would just be on the line with each other and not say but a few words now and then, and neither of us minded.

For a few minutes, I just stared at the ceiling, thinking. My mind wouldn’t rest. Darla’s smug smile at the event kept flashing before me. Her voice, her calm confidence, like she knew something I didn’t. I turned on my side, facing Richard’s back. “Richard,” I said softly. He hummed in response. “Hmm?” “When was the last time you spoke to Darla?” His body stiffened a little. “What kind of question is that?” I folded my arms. “A simple one.” He exhaled. “I haven’t spoken to her in weeks.”

“Lila!" Dan’s voice boomed through the speaker, deep and vibrant, instantly filling the air as I walked towards the library. "Finally! I was starting to think you'd been kidnapped since you went months without even a word to me!" A real smile, one which had been out of reach for days, tugged at my lips. I entered the library, the scent of old paper and dust enveloping me like a comfortable shawl.