“Good. Now get some sleep. You sound exhausted.”
Savannah exhaled slowly. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” Alana said. “Night, Sav.”
“Night.”
Savannah hung up and sat in the quiet for a long time, phone still in her hand.
* * *
Savannah walked through the newsroom doors with her shoulders squared and her expression carefully neutral. Everything was normal. Everything was fine. If she repeated it enough times, maybe it would stick.
The morning editorial meeting clustered around the assignment desk, Henry flipping through rundown sheets while reporters and photogs circled up.
Harper stood beside Savannah, notebook in hand, her tight curls framing her face with the kind of effortless confidence Savannah envied.
Across the group, Tilly organized batteries on the gear cart.
They didn’t look up.
Not once.
Savannah kept her eyes forward.
Henry cleared his throat. “We need a reporter on riverfront water levels. Cleanup efforts need coverage, too. And someone check the city council livestream for any updates.”
Savannah stepped forward. “I can take the riverfront.”
At the same time, Tilly said, “Andrew should take the riverfront.”
Every head turned.
Henry blinked. “Alright…” He looked at Savannah. “Savannah, you want it?”
She nodded once. “Yes.”
“Cool,” Henry said. “Then Tilly goes with you.”
Savannah’s stomach dropped.
Tilly didn’t look up. “Andrew can take her.”
Andrew, who had not volunteered for anything, looked up from his camera bag, eyes wide.
Harper’s eyebrows shot up so fast it was almost comical.
Henry frowned. “Andrew’s already paired with Marcy for cleanup. Tilly, you’re with Savannah.”
“I can switch,” Tilly said immediately. Neutral. Polite. Too polite.
Savannah shook her head quickly. “No. It’s fine. I can take someone else.”
“Tilly and Savannah on the riverfront,” Henry said, done with the conversation. “Andrew with Marcy, Harper, and Drew on council. Let’s move.”
The meeting dissolved.
Savannah tried to slip away before anyone noticed the tension. She made it about three steps.
