Breakup, Makeup by Stacey Anthony

Author:Stacey Anthony [Anthony, Stacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2023-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

Eli picked slippery rice noodles out of rich, fishy broth and completely failed at eating tom kha elegantly. Stella was in the seat beside them, and Bodhi and Zach sat across from them, picking through steaming bowls with red chopsticks. They’d shared a plate of crispy spring rolls and battered seafood, and Eli had listened as Bodhi had rambled about the terrible internship she couldn’t wait to finish, going on and on about wedding dresses, veil construction, and tulle. Eli had fidgeted with the straw in their rose milk tea. Bodhi had introduced Stella, who’d asked Zach a million and one questions about New York. Zach had answered, but his eyes had flicked to Eli, and he’d chosen his words carefully, skimming descriptions of Times Square and Central Park and the Shockwave workshop.

Eli didn’t know how to engage with whatever this was. Zach had just appeared again, out of nowhere, wedging himself into the hollow boyfriend-shaped space in Eli’s life. They’d watched him laugh with Bodhi, sip her iced coffee, and steal a fried shrimp off her appetizer plate. It felt like nothing had changed, yet everything had. Everything. But here they all were, sitting at the Noodle Shack in a city they’d individually gravitated to, laughing like old times, eating together like old times, talking about jobs and careers and big life choices just like old times.

Zach poked at the last of his tom yum. His shoulders rounded toward his ears, snapback flipped backward on his head. “What’s everyone doing after this?”

Bodhi glanced at Eli. Her lips quirked.

Their jaw shifted. Don’t, they said with their eyes. Do not.

“Me and Stella are catching a movie, I think,” Bodhi chirped.

Stella immediately nodded. “Yep. Movie night. What about you, Zach? Anything interesting?”

Eli was certain Bodhi and Stella hadn’t planned a movie night.

“I was thinking about taking a drive to Griffith.” Zach shifted his gaze to them. “Eli, you in?”

Say no. They offered a lopsided smile. “Yeah, I don’t have any plans.” They hesitated, following Zach’s mouth as it curved upward. Damn it. “I’ll go.”

Bodhi checked her phone. “Oh, wow, babe, we should take off.”

Stella stood, smoothing her hand over Eli’s shoulder as she walked behind their chair. “Good to see you, Eli, and nice to finally meet you, Zach. These two talk about you a lot,” she said, and gestured between Bodhi and Eli. “Hope the skies are clear at Griffith.”

“Have fun,” Bodhi sang, waving over her shoulder before she took Stella’s hand.

The bell above the door chimed. A second later, Eli’s phone buzzed.

Bodhi Babe: Have fun

Eli set their phone facedown on the table and picked at their thumbnail. “I’m gonna order a tea to go. Want anything?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll meet you outside?” Zach stood, brushing invisible crumbs from his lap.

“Yeah, be right there.”

They walked to the counter and ordered another rose milk tea, extra sweet, while Zach slipped through the door. Their mind spun, orbiting a situation they’d actively hoped for and avoided—being alone with him in the city they both loved, the place they weren’t supposed to land.

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