Ellie knew it was stupid to check her phone before clocking out.
But she did it anyway. And instantly regretted it.
The message was from Jason — her so-called crush, the one who'd slowly worked his way into her coffee-stained daydreams over the last few weeks.
"Hey, thanks for the coffee. Also, lol, you're kinda like a little sister. Idk why people keep saying we'd be cute 🤣"
Little. Sister.
Ellie stared at the message for a solid ten seconds, the smile draining from her lips as if someone had unplugged her entire mood.
"Cool cool cool," she mumbled under her breath, tossing her apron on the hook with unnecessary force. "Crushed by the crush. Love that for me."
The rain had stopped by the time she got to her apartment, but her heart hadn't.
It was still drizzling.
She curled up in her oversized hoodie, phone glowing on her chest.
Text Message – 9:17 PM
Ellie:
Question: What's the emotional equivalent of stepping on a LEGO barefoot while someone reminds you that you're alone?
Max:
Being called "little sis" by someone you imagined hypothetical wedding playlists with?
Ellie:
…
How did you know?
Max:
Because I've been the little brother. The cousin. The "you're so easy to talk to" guy.
Ellie:
Oof. That's worse. You win this sad-off.
Max:
It's not a competition. But if it were, we'd be co-champions of misplaced affection.
She smiled in spite of herself.
And that's when it hit her how easy it had become to share things with Max.
Things she hadn't told even Anna, her actual best friend.
"He made me feel like maybe I was... seen, you know?"
"I kept telling myself I didn't really like him, that it was just casual flirting. But then... the playlist. The texts. The looks."
"I don't know. Maybe I just made it all up."
Max didn't reply right away.
For a minute, she thought she'd overshared.
But then:
Max:
You didn't make it up. You just hoped it was mutual. That's not foolish. That's brave.
Tears threatened, stupid and uninvited.
Ellie:
I don't feel brave. I feel like the B-plot in someone else's rom-com.
Max:
Maybe. But B-plots steal the show sometimes.
Later that night, Ellie pulled out a blank page from her journal and wrote:
"Today, I was disappointed. But someone I've never met somehow made me feel... less alone.
And maybe that's enough for now."
She folded the note and tucked it between the pages of her book.
The rain started again — softly, this time.
And she let it.