Her thumbs moved across the screen.
I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet.
She hit Send before she could second-guess it.
The response came almost immediately.
Please. I need to see you. I don’t like the way things ended between us.
Naomi’s jaw tightened. She could hear his voice in the words. He always sounded measured, with a slight edge of persistence he always had when he wanted something.
Their breakup had been friendly enough, she supposed. But nothing had felt normal after her attack. She didn’t recognize herself at times. Gio had acted differently also, probably in response to her trauma.
He’d mentioned staying together and dating long distance, but she didn’t want that complication. It was better they made a clean break.
Gio hadn’t agreed.
She typed back.
I have a lot going on right now. Maybe some other time.
She didn’t want to explain the baby to him. They’d talked about marriage, but he hadn’t even wanted kids. She’d told herself she didn’t either.
She now realized that hadn’t been the truth.
Family was everything.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Then Gio replied with:
I miss you.
The words sat on the screen, waiting.
Naomi stared at them.
She should say it back. That was the polite thing.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Because they weren’t true.
She didn’t miss him. Not the way he meant. Not the way she should.
Naomi locked her phone and set it face-down on the table.
Grace made a small sound in her sleep—a sigh, barely audible—and Naomi looked down at her. At the tiny face, peaceful and untroubled, completely unaware of the mess swirling around her.
Naomi’s chest loosened, just a fraction.
One thing at a time.
