My stomach flipped—not fear exactly, but awareness.
Me:
On break. What’s up?
There was a pause. Long enough that I stared at the screen like I could will the typing bubble into existence.
Then:
Archie:
I got confirmation.
My breath hitched.
Me:
Confirmation how?
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Reappeared.
Archie:
The lab has everything. Samples processed.
Archie:
Results are expected tomorrow afternoon.
Tomorrow.
A whole word that suddenly felt enormous.
I leaned back against the brick wall outside the café, cool air brushing my flushed skin. “Okay,” I whispered to no one.
Me:
Thank you for telling me.
Archie:
Of course.
Archie:
I wanted you to hear it from me.
That mattered more than he probably realized.
Me:
I’m at work until close.
Archie:
I know. I’ll pick you up after if you want.
Archie:
