Talia’s already filming by the time I get back to the flat. Ring light glowing, phone propped on the counter, her voice all honey and gloss.
“—and don’t forget to use my code for twenty percent off, babes! You know I wouldn’t share anything I don’tlove—oh!”
She stops when she sees me, turning down the brightness. “Hey, babe. You’re back early.”
“Yeah.” I drop my gear bag by the door. “Can we talk?”
She blinks, lashes fluttering. “Sure. Just give me two minutes to finish this story,”
“Talia.”
My tone makes her stop. That’s rare enough to make her frown.
“What’s wrong?”
I rub a hand over my face. “I think we need to call it.”
“Call what?”
“Us.”
There’s a beat of silence that’s heavy and loaded. Then she laughs lightly. “Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. You’re tired, Cal. You always get dramatic when you’re tired.”
“I’m serious.”
Her smile wavers. “You can’t be.”
“I can.” I exhale slowly. “Look, you’re great. You are. But this, whatever we’ve been doing, it’s not right anymore.”
She stares at me as if I’ve just spoken another language. “Not right? You’re having a bad week, that’s all.”
“It’s not a week, Talia. It’s been months.”
“Because you’re moody!” Her voice sharpens. “You don’t post, you don’t show up at events, you make everything difficult! Do you have any idea how that looks? My followers think we’re perfect!”
“That’s kind of the problem,” I mutter.
Her face hardens. “Oh, don’t you dare. Don’t you start with that‘fake life, fake people’rubbish. You loved it when it suited you.”
“I did.” I nod. “And I hate it now.”
She folds her arms, jaw tightening. “So what then? You want to be the tortured athlete now? Brooding in some dingy flat while I cry on a podcast?”
“This isn’t about an image, Talia.”
“Then what is it about?” Her eyes narrow. “Her?”
I flinch. “Who?”
“That photographer. The one you’ve been messaging. Don’t look surprised, Cal. You’re not subtle.”
I open my mouth, and then close it again. The silence gives her all the answer she needs.
Her laugh is sharp, ugly even. “Unbelievable. You meet one girl with a camera and suddenly you’re done with me?”
