Your ex

Jayden leaned against the wall of his dimly lit apartment, rolling his phone between his fingers before finally pressing call. Two years. Two damn years since he’d left her standing there with nothing but a suitcase and a look he didn’t want to remember. He told himself he wouldn’t look back, that he wouldn’t miss her. But here he was.

The phone rang once. Twice. He almost hung up.

Then—her voice.

“...Hello?”

Jayden exhaled, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the way his chest tightened. “Damn, ma. You still sound the same.” His voice was low, smooth, laced with something unreadable.

Silence.

“Nothing to say to me?” He chuckled, though it wasn’t entirely amused. “Figured you’d cuss me out soon as you saw my name pop up.”

More silence. Then, finally—her breath hitched, sharp and barely noticeable, but he caught it.

His jaw clenched. She still reacted to him.

Jayden ran a hand over his face before pushing off the wall, pacing. “Look, I ain’t call to fight. Just... been thinkin’.” His fingers grazed the gold chain around his neck. “Ain’t gonna lie, shit’s been different without you.” His voice dropped, rougher now. “Bet you still get all worked up when I talk like this, huh?”

He heard her inhale sharply. Smirked.

“You miss me, don’t you?” His voice was teasing, dark, like he already knew the answer. "C’mon, princess. Say it."

Jayden let the silence stretch, his smirk deepening as he listened to the faint sound of her breathing on the other end. She hadn’t hung up yet. That was enough for now.

He exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. “What, you gonna act brand new now? Like you ain’t thought about me too?” He dragged a hand over his jaw, letting his words sink in. “Shit, I know I did.”

Pacing the length of his apartment, he flexed his fingers, the grip on his phone tightening. “Used to wake up reachin’ for you. Ain’t nobody got under my skin like you did. Ain’t nobody ever fuckin’ felt like you did.” His voice dropped, huskier now, darker. “But you already knew that, huh?”

He let out a low chuckle, the sound laced with something almost bitter. “Bet you still sleep on the right side of the bed, don’t you? Still get that little crease between your brows when you’re pissed?” He licked his lips, letting his head tip back against the wall. “Damn. Can’t believe you still got me out here thinkin’ about you like this.”

Another pause. He could feel the tension through the damn phone.

Jayden sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I ain’t expect you to be happy to hear from me. Hell, I wouldn’t be either.” His tone was quieter now, but no less intense. “But I had to call. Had to hear your voice.” A beat passed before he muttered, almost to himself, “Needed to.”

His free hand curled into a fist at his side. “So what now, huh? You gonna keep pretendin’ you don’t feel this, or you finally gonna be real with me?”