“That has become your entire personality this week.”
That hit sharp.
I laughed once, no humor in it. “Great. Another person with notes.”
Roman’s face didn’t change. “You’re somewhere else all the time.”
“I’m tired.”
“Everyone’s tired.”
“I’m dealing with stuff.”
“No kidding.”
My fingers started picking at the edge of my hoodie sleeve. I shoved my hand into my pocket.
Roman saw. Of course he did. “You’re snapping at guys for breathing wrong. You’re forgetting meetings you used to be early for if there was video you cared about. You stare through people, then act pissed when they notice.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah.” He leaned in slightly. “You’re becoming difficult to be around.”
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Roman didn’t look triumphant. He looked like he hated saying it.
“I’m not telling you that to be a dick,” he said. “I’m telling you because I love you and no one else in this building is going to say it without making it about hockey.”
I looked away.
“Talk to me,” he said.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.”
His sigh was quiet. “That scares me more than you yelling.”
“I’m not trying to scare you.”
“Then stop disappearing while standing right in front of me.”
Before I could answer, a familiar voice drifted from the parking lot entrance.
“Jace, wait.”
Vanessa.
I turned.
She came in carrying the tie I’d forgotten at home, the dark one Tessa wanted for travel day media. She’d changed clothes, sunglasses pushed up in her hair, phone in one hand, my tie in the other. She looked embarrassed to be there but determined.
“You left this.”
“Thanks.” I reached for it.
