He Kept Me on a Timer, But Welcomed Her Forty Minutes Late

Only three days after moving into our new apartment, the Seattle rain started, pouring down without any sign of stopping.

Julian sat on the sofa, his face dark with irritation.

"Maya, you never learn to respect other people's time."

But I was only one single minute late.

To make it up to him, I had ridden my e-bike through the pouring rain just to get the red velvet cake he had been craving.

The tires slipped on the wet asphalt, sending me crashing onto the curb. My knee took the brunt of the impact.

Now, I stood in the entryway, holding the smashed, lopsided cake box.