“Elliot,” Marnie warns.
“What? I’m just saying. Men are idiots. Even good men. They think they can handle things themselves and they end up making everything worse.”
“He wouldn’t cheat on me,” I say, but my voice sounds uncertain even to my own ears.
“I don’t think he would either,” Goldie says quickly. “But youshould still talk to him. Clear the air.”
We move on to discussing the book, but I can barely focus. My mind is spinning with everything they said.
And now she’s DMing Romeo saying they had coffee yesterday.
By the time book club ends at nine, I’ve made a decision.
I’m not going to his apartment tonight.
I need space. Need time to think without him distracting me with his smile and his hands and the way he makes me forget everything else.
I text him from my car.
Hey, I’m exhausted from book club. Going to sleep at my place tonight.
Romeo
Everything okay?
Yeah, just tired. See you tomorrow?
Romeo
Okay. Sleep well. Miss you.
I stare at that message.Miss you.
Does he miss me? Or does he miss Sienna?
I drive to my apartment for the first time in weeks. The place smells stale when I walk in, like it’s been closed up too long. It feels wrong, empty, not like home anymore.
I get ready for bed on autopilot, wash my face, brush my teeth, put on my comfortable pajamas because it’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone right now.
Then I lie in my bed and stare at the ceiling.
My phone buzzes.
Romeo
You sure you’re okay?
I’m fine. Just need some sleep.
Romeo
Okay. Text me when you wake up tomorrow?
I stare at the message. He’s being so normal. So sweet. Like he has nothing to hide.
Maybe he doesn’t.
Maybe I’m the one making this into something it’s not.
