Page 145

Talia: Not even close.

Rafe: Why didn’t you want me to know you were watching?

Talia: Because it’s not fair for me to be hot and cold with you.

There was another long pause.

Rafe: How have you been?

Talia: Okay, I guess. How about you?

Rafe: Fucking miserable.

My heart sped up. I was just about to type that I felt the same, but another text came in.

Rafe: Have you seen Calder?

Shit. Why couldn’t he have asked me that yesterday?

Talia: I actually saw him today for the first time since you left.

Again there was a long pause.

Rafe: Did you run into him in the hall?

Talia: No. He knocked.

More silence.

Rafe: What did he want?

Should I lie and say he was just checking on me? Or tell the truth? I knew how it would sound, saying I was going to share a meal with Calder, but there had already been way too many lies.

Talia: He asked me to have lunch tomorrow.

My heart raced through the next excruciatingly long pause. I was relieved when my phone finally pinged. Until I read the message.

Rafe: Enjoy your date and take care of yourself.

***

The following afternoon, as planned, I went to lunch with Calder.

We sat at the back of an Italian restaurant, making small talk that was pleasant enough, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming.

“How’s your mom?” he asked as the waitress brought our dishes.

“She’s good. I don’t know if I told you, but I talked her into joining a bereavement group. And she’s made a really good new friend.”

“That’s great. I bet it helps to be able to talk with someone who’s been through what she’s been through.”

I nodded. “Her regular group of friends are all supportive, but they keep wanting to do what they can to help her move on. She says Lydia gets that grief doesn’t have a timeline.”

“I’m glad you got her to join a group.”

“Me too.”

He broke a piece of bread off and dipped it into the sauce on his plate. “Do you miss Montana?”