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He doesn’t answer.

Ethan watches both of us. “We don’t rush her.”

“And we don’t disappear on her either,” I say.

Ethan nods once. “Agreed.”

Andrew looks between us, then back at his phone.

I pick mine up and open the group chat.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Leaving the door open.”

Liam: Take the space. We’re at the hotel across the street. No pressure. Just… I miss you.

I pause, then add:

Liam: And don’t disappear on us, okay?

I hit send before I can rethink it.

Ethan exhales. “Subtle.”

“I tried.”

Andrew doesn’t say anything.

We wait.

Ten seconds. Twenty.

Then the typing bubble appears.

Disappears.

Comes back.

“Unbelievable,” I mutter. “That thing should be illegal.”

Andrew lets out a rough breath that might be a laugh.

Then her reply comes through.

Riley: I’m not disappearing.

Three words.

Enough to let me breathe again.

Andrew closes his eyes briefly. Ethan’s shoulders ease just a fraction.

I type back:

Liam: Good. I was two minutes away from faking a medical emergency just to get back over there.

A second later: