Since my family is distracted, I pull my phone out to check the messages Alex sent earlier. The first is a picture of a pot of simmering curry. The second is a text.
Alex
I forgot how much this makes when a certain someone isn’t here to eat it all.
At least you’ll have dinner for tomorrow.
And for the nextweek!
Mom clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her. Three sets of eyes are locked on me, and I realize I’ve been smiling down at my phone for too long.
“Is that your”—she pauses before landing on the only term she knows for him—“husband?”
“Alex. We’re not really married,” I remind her, setting my phone aside.
“But you’re texting each other.” She and Dad exchange a look. “So what does that mean?”
“He just wants to be friends.” When he first texted me, I couldn’t resist the temptation to keep the conversation going. I thought it might taper off after a few days, but somehow, we both always had something new to say. Every exchange has been light, friendly, not really touching on any serious topics. We never talk about our temporary marriage or the casual sex. Sometimes it feels like our whole relationship was rewritten as soon as the marriage was invalidated.
“That’s a good starting point,” Dad says, though his downturned lips imply some skepticism.
I nod, believing his words as much as he does. “I know. Calder told me to slow down, that I’m always rushing into relationships. Seeing things that aren’t really there.”
“It’s not bad advice,” Mom hedges. “But it takes two people to get married, and even if youweredrunk, there must have been something there, right?”
Calder groans. “Cansomeonein this family please date like a normal person? Actually get to know them before proposing marriage?”
“You still have a chance to be that someone,” Mom says. “If you would date anyone atall. You’ve never brought home a single man, woman, or—” she pauses, brow furrowed. “What’s the term?”
“Non-binary person?” Calder suggests.
Another message comes in, but I ignore it this time.
“Yes, that’s it.”Buzz.“Though I’m annoyed that it’s two words.”Buzz.“It throws off the cadence—”Buzz.“Euan, can youpleasedo something about your phone? It’s distracting.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll silence it.” But when I look at my phone again, the last message catches my attention.
Alex
The only way you’re getting—
That’s all I see before the preview cuts off. Frowning, I open the messages and scroll back to the beginning.
I see why this is your favorite shirt.
The next message is a picture of him wearing the T-shirt I left behind. It’s just a picture from the waist up, but I catch a glimpse of a bare knee.Did he send a picture of himself wearing my shirt and nothing else?
It’s super comfy.
The only way you’re getting this back is if you come take it from me.
Mom clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her. Three sets of eyes are locked on me. I have no idea how long I’ve been staring at his messages.
“What’d he do?” Calder asks, trying to lean over the table to see my phone. “Send you a dick pic?”
“Calder,” Mom snaps, shaking her head inexasperation.
“I think …” I look back at the last text, hoping I’m not misinterpreting it. “He invited me to come visit.”
