Tessa did not blink.
“She briefed us.”
“She created a group chat,” Janine said.
“I did not consent to a group chat.”
“You are in it,” Tessa replied.
My phone buzzed. The group was named:
AMY’S TOTALLY CASUAL NON-SUPPORT RUN
I changed it to:
TUESDAY FIVE MILES
Tessa changed it back. We began. The pace was slower than my usual easy pace. Carol walked the first minute. Janine asked whether walk breaks were allowed.
“Yes,” I said.
“Always?”
“Yes.”
It sounded like Dani. I let it. We moved along the river. No one asked about the livestream. No one asked whether I was still in love. No one said Dani’s name. That absence became its own pressure. At mile two, Simone moved beside me.
“You can tell us to leave.”
“I know.”
“Really?”
“I do not want you to leave.”
“Good.”
She adjusted her pace.
“I asked Dani out, and she said no.”
“I know.”
“Just establishing that I am not here to complicate your romantic life.”
“I did not assume you were.”
“You glared at a treadmill for twenty minutes afterward.”
“That is an inaccurate summary.”
“History remembers.”
I almost smiled. Simone continued.
“For what it’s worth, she looked at you before answering.”
“That does not help.”
