The Sweet Taste of Rain Chapter 1

I crouched by the entrance of the local ice cream parlor, grabbing the arm of the man rushing past me.

"Hey, the sundaes are buy-one-get-one! Want to split an order with me?"

He lowered his phone and his gaze briefly swept over the banner advertising the "Couples Special."

"Oh," I said. "Are we getting back together then?"

Caleb narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No can do. I'm spoken for."

"I've got a new girl," he added. "She gets pretty jealous."

I froze.

He turned away. "Actually, pack the ice cream up to go. She loves it."

* * *

I still hadn't fully processed what was happening.

The cheerful barista had already boxed up the two sundaes.

"You two make a lovely couple. Enjoy your evening!" she beamed.

Caleb’s expression remained flat. He took his sundae and started walking.

His sleek black Range Rover was parked right by the curb.

It was sweltering out, so I had been squatting by the entrance of the fruit shop next door, mooching their AC while licking my ice cream.

Before getting into his car, he threw me a look that was half-amused, half-mocking.

"Need a ride, 'girlfriend'?"

I glanced at his passenger seat. It was decked out with a fluffy pink seat cover and a cute stuffed animal.

It practically screamed that it belonged to someone else.

"No, I'm good," I mumbled slowly. "I live close by..."

Before I could even finish my sentence, he sped off.

"Hey, hey! Don't block the door!" the shop owner yelled.

"Ah, sorry."

My legs were aching from squatting so long.

As I stood up, I lost my balance. The sundae in my hand hit the pavement with a splat.

Ugh, what a waste.

A whole boyfriend traded for a dropped ice cream.

I smacked my lips, disappointed, and turned to walk home.

My studio apartment was simple and clean.

I quietly took down the old, framed photo hanging on the wall.

In it, a young man with crinkling eyes was smiling brightly, holding a girl's hand like it was his most prized possession.

In stark contrast, the girl's face was blank, almost painfully cold.

I stared at it for a few seconds longer, then tossed it into the trash can.

Tsk. No wonder I looked so awful when I tried to smile.

No wonder he broke up with me all those years ago.

"Meow."

The stray calico I'd picked up rubbed against my legs.

I popped open a can of wet food for her.

I’d bought it yesterday during a "buy two, get one free" sale at the supermarket.

When you're used to being broke, missing out on a deal physically hurts.

I almost regretted not asking him for a breakup fee back then.

Just then, an unknown number called my phone.

I answered. It was Caleb.

His voice was still as cold as ice.

"If we're getting back together, aren't you going to add me back on Instagram?"

"Do you know how annoying it is to call you?"

I quietly muttered an "oh" and was about to say something else.

But then, a woman's sweet, whiny voice drifted through the receiver.

"Caleb, I'm hungry..."

He hung up immediately.

The dial tone echoed in my ear.

Honestly, that whole "getting back together" thing was a joke...

I wanted to tell him to just forget it.

But remembering the voice I just heard, it didn't feel right to call him back.

I typed in his Instagram handle.

User not found.

His phone number? Also out of service.

I slowly hugged my phone and lay back on my bed.

Caleb had forgotten that he was the one who deleted me.