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The steadiness in his voice when he said please.
He wasn’t manipulating.
He wasn’t performing.
He was choosing.
The question is whether I’m brave enough to choose back.
Daisy sighs.
"This is insane," I whisper.
She thumps her tail once.
I reach for my phone.
Open his name.
Close it.
Open it again.
My fingers hover.
If I do this, it’s not temporary.
It’s not optics.
It’s not strategy.
It’s a vow.
I inhale.
Then I type.
We need to talk.
Chapter four
Gabriel
We need to talk.
She sent it last night.
After I’d already put Maddie to bed and was halfway through convincing myself I’d imagined this whole thing.
I didn’t wait.
I texted back immediately.
Tonight?
The three dots popped up.
Not tonight. Tomorrow.
