Page 108 of Vegas with my Ex’s Best Friends

“Preventative care.”

“I’m not drinking that.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in three days.”

“I haven’t.”

“Exactly.”

He stares at me, then picks it up and takes a drink.

Ethan watches that. “Remarkable.”

“I’m very persuasive.”

“No one has ever accused you of restraint.”

“Not a skill I value.”

Before I can say anything else, my phone lights up again.

Riley: I’m okay. I just need a little space today.

I read it once. Then again.

The text should make me feel better but it doesn’t.

No question, no follow-up, no are you okay, no where are you, no I’ll text later.

Just clean. Closed.

Andrew looks at me. “What?”

“That doesn’t sound like her.”

Ethan goes still.

Andrew shakes his head. “She said she needs space.”

“I know. That part makes sense.” I tap the table once, then stop. “But the way she wrote it. No question or check-in. That’s not her.”

“What do you mean?”

“It's not what she said. It's what she didn't. She'd normally leave a door open—a question, a 'I'll text later.' This is tied off. I know what that looks like.”

Andrew’s jaw tightens. “You don’t know that.”

“No. I don’t.” I hold his gaze. “But I know what it looks like when someone starts pulling back before they’re ready to walk away.”

The table goes quiet.

Ethan leans back slightly. “Or she’s overwhelmed.”

“She is overwhelmed,” I say. “That doesn’t mean she’s not also trying to make this easier to step away from.”

Andrew pushes his chair back, then stops himself before standing.

I soften a little. “Hey. I’m not saying she’s gone.”