"Try that one," he says.
At 9:02, I walk upstairs.
Caleb is not in his office.
For one cold second, the old reflex says good, easier, leave.
Then Dani comes down the hall carrying a tablet. She sees me. Stops.
"Film room," she says.
I nod.
"Cray."
I look back.
She points the tablet at me like a weapon. "Don't be stupid twice."
I almost smile.
"Working on it."
The film room door is open.
The light is on.
Caleb is at the console, not watching film. The screens are dark. His hands are flat on the desk, the same way mine were on my kitchen counter last night. For a second I see the shape of the thing I did to him. Not as accusation. As fact.
He looks up.
He does not stand.
Good.
I deserve to cross the room myself.
"The article didn't run," I say.
"No."
"Alderman told Dana."
"I asked him to make sure someone reached you if you wouldn't answer me."
I close my eyes for one second.
Of course he did.
"Thank you."
He nods. Careful. Wounded. Present.
I stand on the other side of the console. The room where this started. Screens dark. Door open. No glass between us except the one I brought in my chest.
"I was wrong," I say.
His face changes.
