I FaceTime Cohen’s phone a few times a week and talk to Noah.
It’s become the highlight of my day.
I get home, shower, throw my hair into a messy bun, and hit Cohen’s name.
My face shows on my screen as it rings a few times before it’s answered.
I nearly drop the phone, and my mouth goes slack when the woman comes into view.
A drop-dead gorgeous woman.
“Hello?” she answers.
A deep tinge of insecurity wracks through me as I notice how different we are. Her hair is down in loose waves, her eyeliner is winged with a precision I could never master, and her low-cut top shows more cleavage than any of my push-up bras can manage.
“Is, uh”—I play with my messy bun, an attempt to make it look not so sloppy—“Cohen there?”
“Why?” She puckers her lips. “Who are you?”
“A friend.” I’m gripping the phone so tight that I’m waiting for it to crumble in my hand.
“What kind of friend?”
“Is Noah around? I called to talk to him.”
“Why do you want to talk to his son?” Something hits her, and she lowers her voice, scooting in closer to the phone’s camera. “Oh, my God. Are you the baby mama?”
“What? No. Can you just tell them Jamie called, please?”
“Not if Jamie doesn’t tell me who she is.”
“Who’s that?” Another girl comes into view before a dirty look forms on her face, and a snarl leaves her.
Oh, this is the mean one. Definitely.
“Why are you calling Cohen?” the mean one asks.
“Whoa, whoa.” Silas is the next person I see.
It’s like they’re passing me around in a game.
“Oh, hey, Jamie,” he says with a smile.
“Um, who is Jamie?” Mean Barbie snaps.
“There it is,” Cohen says in the distance. “I thought I’d lost my phone.”
There’s a moment of silence.
“Wait. Becca, what are you doing on my phone?”
“Um …” Becca bites into her lower lip. “It rang, and I didn’t want you to miss a call.”
“It’s Jamie!” Silas informs him.
I still and hover my finger over the End button.
“Oh shit. Hey, Jamie,” Cohen says, jerking his phone out of Becca’s hand.
“I’m getting another call,” I say before hanging up.
It’s a slap in the face.
Another reminder.
I cannot fall for Cohen.
He’ll never be mine.