I. When Old Flames Don’t Die
Ken stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over Tracy's name in his contacts list. It had been 8 years since she left town for a new job out west. They had promised to make long-distance work, talking and video chatting every day for that first month. But life got in the way - new friends, new routines. The calls became less frequent until they stopped altogether.
He had heard through a few friends that knew both of them that Tracy had gotten married a couple years back. His boy Jamal's girlfriend had been at the wedding. "Yo Ken, you'll never believe who my girl saw Tracy marry - dude looked just like you bro.!"
Ken smirked, running a hand over his closely cropped waves. He had transformed a lot since his younger days - hitting the weights hard and letting his hairline retreat a little. But the idea that Tracy had married a dude who reminded her of him was strangely flattering.
Before he could overthink it, Ken tapped the call button. His heart raced as the line started ringing. This was crazy, why was he doing this after all these years?
"Hello?" Her warm, familiar voice made his chest tighten.
"...Tracy? It's Ken. Ken from back home."
There was a pause. "Oh my god, Ken?? Wow, I never thought I'd hear from you again!"
They caught up, filling in the gaps of the last eight years. Ken learned Tracy's marriage had been brief - she was newly single again. As they talked, it was like no time had passed at all. The flirtation, the joking, the connection was still there.
"You know, I'm actually coming back to the city next month for my cousin's wedding..." Tracy said tentatively.
Ken broke into a huge grin. "In that case, I better take you out for old time's sake. Bring you to all the old spots, and show you what's new around here."
He could hear the smile in her voice. "It's a date."