Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 59 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 59

Chapter 10 

Chapter 10 

Casey found me this one-bedroom on the east side. South-facing, tons of light. 

The landlord handed over the keys. 

“You can set whatever code you want on the panel.” 

Casey dragged my suitcase inside and looked around. 

“So what color curtains are we doing?” 

“Something warm. Maybe orange.” 

She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through options in the corner. 

I walked over to the door and stared at the keypad. 

Four empty boxes blinking back at me. 

Not anybody’s birthday. 

Not any anniversary I had to remember anymore. 

I punched in four numbers. Hit confirm. 

The panel blinked green twice. One soft beep. 

Casey peeked over. 

“Okay, so what’d you pick?” 

“Something that’s just mine.” 

“Come on, tell me.” 

“Nope. Secret.” 

She laughed and let it go. 

I crouched down and started unpacking. 

Chapter 10 

Hung up my clothes one by one in this completely empty closet. 

No dark gray couch. No cold-ass white curtains. No pretentious French novels. No ring with somebody else’s name 

carved into it. 

Just clean. Empty. Mine. 

After we finished setting up, we sat on the floor with takeout boxes spread between us. 

“Oh-your mom called. Wants to know when you’re coming home for a visit.” 

“Maybe next week or something.” 

I stopped mid-bite. 

Maybe next week. 

That’s what Eric always said. 

I’ll make up for your birthday next week. We’ll go out next week. I’ll think about it next week. 

There was never a “next week.” 

I put my fork down. 

“No. Actually, scratch that. I’ll go this weekend.” 

Casey grinned. 

“Hell yeah. I’ll drive you.” 

Later, I stood by the window looking out. 

The evening light coming through was this soft, buttery yellow-same kind of glow as the lamp in Casey’s living room. 

I’d grabbed a plain white mug from the store. Nothing fancy. No design. 

I sat on the couch with it and took a sip. 

Living room was quiet. Bedroom was quiet. 

Every lock in this place? Just me on the other side. 

That weekend, Casey drove me home. 

My mom was already waiting outside. 

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Mr. Chatterbox for Her. Mr. Iceberg for Me? Ice Melts, and So Did My Lovel 

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Chapter 10 

“You look skinnier. Get in here-your dad made fish.” 

At the table, my dad dropped a chunk of fish belly into my bowl. The softest, best part. 

“Eat real meals from now on. And if you need anything, you tell us.” 

“I will.” 

Mom just sat there watching me for a while. 

“Sweetheart… do you regret it?” 

“Not even a little.” 

“Good.” 

She ladled more soup into my bowl without asking. 

After dinner I helped Dad with the dishes. 

The faucet ran loud. Water splashing everywhere. 

Dad was drying a plate when he said, out of nowhere: 

“When you were little, you were obsessed with sunflowers. Every time we walked past a flower shop, you’d stand there forever just staring at them.” 

“Yeah.” 

“If you want them now, buy them yourself. Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to hand them to you.” 

I kept scrubbing, head down, and smiled. 

“Okay.” 

I didn’t see Eric again after that. 

Every once in a while I’d catch his posts-gym selfies, work trips, solo dinners. 

He’d changed his username. 

Used to be YZ0912. 

Now it just said Eric. 

I saw it once. Kept scrolling. 

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Mr. Chatterbox for Her. Mr. Iceberg for Me? Ice Melts, and So Did My Love! 

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Chapter 10 

The curtains came in a few days later. Orange, the ones Casey picked. Even better than the photo. 

I pulled them shut, then opened them again. Whole room lit up warm. 

I put a little potted sunflower on the balcony. Leaves stretching out toward the window. Growing like crazy. 

My phone buzzed. Casey. 

Diana! Get over here after work-hot pot night! 

On my way. I’ll text when I’m close. 

I grabbed my shoes and headed out. 

Pressed the code into the keypad. 

Beep. 

Door locked behind me. 

I got in the elevator and glanced at my phone screen. 

A new date. 

Nothing to do with anyone’s birthday. 

From here on out, the only person behind my lock was me. 

I walked outside and looked up. 

Sky was this bright, clear blue. Not a cloud in sight. Wind felt almost warm. 

I turned out of the complex and started walking toward Casey’s. 

When I passed the flower shop on the corner, they’d put out a whole new batch of sunflowers. Massive ones. Every single one tilting its face up hard, chasing what was left of the sun. 

I didn’t stop. 

Just smiled a little. 

And kept walking. 

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