I stared down at my phone for a second, not quite comprehending that Alexa was calling me.

This must be a mistake, right?

"Do you mind if I step aside and take this phone call?" I asked Josie.

"Go ahead," she nodded.

I answered right before the call would have dropped, "Alexa...hi. Did you mean to call me?"

My heart raced a mile a minute.

"I did," Alexa's voice came through on the other end.

Hearing her voice felt like how she always did for me.

Like a breath of fresh air.

She continued speaking, "I'm coming back to Pennsylvania for a week to visit some friends. I'm flying in on Monday. Would you by chance be free this coming week to grab coffee or something?"

"Of course," I found myself saying, "Um, would you be available on Tuesday after 3 PM? I end work earlier on Tuesdays."

"For sure. How about I text you and we can figure something out?"

"Sure," I said back, heart still racing, "I'll...see you then?"

"Definitely. I'll text you, May."

We then hung up, and my hand was shaky as I walked back over to Josie.

"Who called you?" she asked me, "At first I thought it might've been Sam, but the conversation seemed short."

"It was Alexa."

Josie's eyes widened, "No way! What did she want?"

"She's visiting the area this week and asked me if I wanted to get coffee."

"Wait, what? Does she not have a girlfriend anymore?"

"Fuck. I didn't even think of that, I was so surprised she called me."

Josie and I walked back to her car together and she said, "Something tells me she might not anymore. I don't think she'd be getting together with you if she still had a girlfriend."

"I guess I'll find out."

Somehow speaking with Alexa softened the blow of Sam breaking up with me out of nowhere. I almost wasn't even thinking about Sam anymore, now Alexa was on the forefront of my mind.

Alexa texted me later that day, and we decided on a time and which coffee shop to meet at. I was tempted to ask her over text if she still had a girlfriend but ultimately decided against it.

She'll tell me either way.

What got me through the next few days was knowing that I was going to see Alexa. Otherwise, I would've likely been a mess over Sam.

I did find it interesting that just one phone call from Alexa could completely get my mind off Sam, who literally just broke up with me out of nowhere.

I had answered Sam not long after she texted me at the coffee shop, basically just telling her that I accepted the fact that she wanted to break up. I didn't react angrily.

I deserved more than that. I deserved more than to be broken up with over text.

I deserved more than her.

After work on Monday, I stopped by the coffee job Div worked at and told her about getting together with Alexa.

"While I'm offended that you're not getting coffee here," Div said with a smile, "I think this could be a really good thing for you, May."

"I'm sorry," I smiled back at Div and chuckled, "What if she still has a girlfriend?"

"Something tells me she doesn't if she's asking you to get coffee. But if she does, then, well...she does. You'll cross that bridge if you get there. Would you be upset?"

"I'd love to be able to say I wouldn't be upset. I mean, I should be happy for her."

Div gave me a pointed look, "You can be honest with me."

"Okay, between us, I'd be upset. Though I'd never show her that, of course."

"If she doesn't have a girlfriend, would you want anything to happen with her?"

I thought for a moment, "Honestly, I'm not sure. I don't know if I could handle just hooking up with her while she's here. I've thought about her so much since everything happened between us, I don't think it'd benefit either of us to just have sex."

"That makes total sense. She seems to be the one that got away."

"Sometimes I do think that. I have since she moved," I then realized what I said, "Sorry! I know we had a thing after she moved. I wasn't trying to say I was thinking about her the whole time."

Div laughed, "Even if you did, that's fine. I want you to be happy. Maybe she's the one that can help with that."

The next day at work I was on edge, as I knew I was going to meet Alexa right after. I'd go home and change quickly and then meet her for coffee.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asked me at work, "You seem distracted."

Things were never awkward between Sophia and I, even after sleeping together. However, was still together with her ex-fiancé.

"I'm okay," I smiled at her, "Thank you for asking. I think I'm just kind of tired; I didn't sleep well."

"Take melatonin. It works wonders," Sophia suggested.

When I got home, I changed quickly and touched up on my makeup. I was torn, I wanted to look good to see Alexa, however I didn't want her to think I was trying too hard if she did still have a girlfriend.

As I drove to the coffee shop, I got a text from Alexa and read it at a red light when I was minutes away.

It said: I'm here early. Is an iced vanilla latte with oat milk still your go to?

I couldn't help but smile to myself as I texted her back that it was still my coffee order.

I gave myself a pep talk as I walked into the coffee shop.

You're okay, May. It's all going to be fine. The worst that happens is that you go back to not talking after this.

I spotted Alexa sitting at a table  immediately when I walked in, and her face seemed to light up when she saw me.

I started walking toward her and she stood up. As I walked, it felt like she was the only person in the shop. My heart hammered as everything else seemed to fade away.

"It's so good to see you, May," she said as I approached, and when she pulled me in for a hug, it felt like coming home.

She held me for a moment, and I breathed in her scent. She was still wearing the same perfume that she always wore when we spent time together.

When we pulled apart, she smiled at me, and I smiled back at her as we sat down.

"Thank you for the coffee," I said to her, picking up my drink, "I appreciate it."

"Of course, I'm glad to get you coffee."

My heart was still racing as I looked at Alexa. As expected, she still looked good as ever. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore a crisp gray hoodie. Her sleeves were rolled up, and noticed she had a new tattoo on her arm.

"That's new, isn't it?" I pointed at the arm band tattoo surrounded by a few flowers.

"It is," she nodded, "I got it about a month ago. No rhyme or reason, I just wanted another tattoo."

"It looks great," I said, catching her gaze.

"Thank you," she held my gaze, "I know I just said it, but it's really great to see you."

"It's really great to see you as well. So...how have you been?"

Are you single?

"I'm doing alright," Alexa started, "It still kind of feels like I'm adjusting to Arizona even though I've been there close to a year, and I lived there as a kid."

"It was a big move, regardless of whether you lived there before," I said back to her, "I have to ask, how is your grandmother?"

"Still hanging in there. She has her good and bad days. My mom is still her full time caregiver. I appreciate you asking."

"Of course," I nodded, "I've thought about her and your family."

And you. So much.

Alexa cracked a smile, "My mom asked about you not long ago. I told her that I was going to see if we could meet up when I visited."

"How long did you know you were coming to visit?"

"A couple of weeks. I know I called you last minute. I kept debating whether I should call you or not, to be honest."

"What made you think not to?"

"If you said no, while I would have completely understood, it would've upset me. Whether I want to admit that or not."

I looked at Alexa and asked her the question that had been on my mind for days, "I understand that. Though I have to ask you, do you still have a girlfriend?"

"You saw the picture I posted on Instagram, I assume?"

I nodded, "I did."

"Carrie and I aren't together anymore."

My heart skipped a beat knowing that Alexa was now single.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

Alexa looked at me and tilted her head slightly, as if to ask, "Are you really sorry?"

"I'm sorry if you're down about it," I added.

"Eh, it was for the best," Alexa shrugged, "She wasn't the right person for me."

There was a pause before Alexa asked, "How about you...are you dating anyone?"

"I got broken up with not long before you called me on Saturday."

Alexa's eyebrows shot up, and I continued, "Sam broke up with me over text. She had been acting weird for a few days, I saw it coming."

"Over text, are you serious?" Alexa frowned.

"Unfortunately. Or fortunately. Now I know the kind of person she is."

"How long did you date?"

"A few months. How about you and Carrie?"

"Also a few months. It just wasn't the right relationship."

"Neither was mine."

Alexa and I locked eyes and didn't say anything for a moment.

I knew we were thinking the same thing.

We had the right relationship.

Will we even admit that to each other?