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I freeze.

Of course she asks that. Of course she knows.

I stare at the screen for a second.

Then I type.

Me: no

There’s a pause.

Then—

Simone: huh

I frown.

Me: what does huh mean

Simone: it means that man was texting you like clockwork and now he’s gone quiet which is suspicious

I drop my head back against the couch.

“Thank you,” I mutter. “That’s exactly what I needed.”

Me: maybe he’s busy

Simone: he’s always busy, that didn’t stop him before

I don’t reply. Because she’s right.

Because that’s the part I can’t ignore.

He made time. And now he’s not.

Simone sends another message.

Simone: did you scare him off

I stare at it.

Did I?

I think about the fight. The way he looked at me when I said those things. The way he didn’t argue after a point. The way he just… let me go.

My chest tightens again.

Me: maybe

Simone takes a second longer this time.

Simone: or maybe something else is going on

I sit up a little.

Me: like what

There’s a pause.