On the Line

by Naomi Loud

I don’t know how to tell him that I usually stick to familiar foods. That meals I’ve eaten a thousand times before feel the safest and the most comforting, especially when I’m overwhelmed. How I can’t eat food with certain textures without completely losing my appetite. It’s not that I don’t like to be adventurous, it’s just that when it comes to food … I’d rather stick to what I know.

“What’s this?” I ask innocently. “We don’t even sell nachos.” “Thought you might be hungry. You weren’t at staff meal today,” he says, his gaze down while he continues chopping. “I made them with Doritos.”

“I said—out,” I hiss, pointing my finger to the door. “You heard her,” I hear Ozzy drawl from behind, coming to stand next to me. He takes a casual bite of the chocolate bar, and for a beat, my mind blanks.

“So, what’s this all about? Is this going to be our soft launch to all of your friends or something?” Ozzy says jokingly after the photo is taken. I laugh. “It’s not called a soft launch if your face is in it,” I reply, busy studying the picture we just took. We look so good together. “Besides, you only soft launch someone you’re actually dating.”

Before we leave the café hours later, I sneakily take a picture of our finished bowl, his tattooed hand and arm clearly in the background of the image, and post it online, my heart beating hard in my chest at the subtle implication.

“James, this was never just friends for me. As soon as I first saw you, I knew you were about to change my fucking world, baby. I love you doesn’t even come close to describing what I feel for you,” I profess, kissing her lips, her nose, her cheeks. “But I’ll tell you every minute of every fucking day that I love you if it means I can keep you forever.”