Page 64 of Never Your Valentine

“Before she left, she gave a speech about personal growth, hugged everyone goodbye, and threw all her stuff into a tote bag that says boss babe. Nobody helped her pack. Nobody.”

“Uh-huh.” I put the phone down so I can put the cases on my pillows. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Aren’t you at least curious?”

I pick up the phone again and smooth out my blankets. “I’m curious about why you’re more invested in my ex than I am.”

Kat pauses. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because if I don’t care loudly, it feels like she wins.”

“There aren’t any winners.”

“She also took half the magazines,” Kat says. “Including the Vanity Fair with Pedro Pascal on the cover, which we all agreed was community property.”

“Kat.”

“I know, I know.” She presses her hand to her eyes for a moment. “I just miss you. Paulette keeps asking if she should get curtain bangs and I don’t have anyone to make eye contact with while we silently judge.”

I sit down on the bed. “That is a loss.”

“I’m sorry I was instigating. I shouldn’t have called just to be messy.”

“You could come visit. Be messy in person.”

“I should,” she says, with a tilt of her head. “I can bring my scissors. You need a trim.”

“Do I?” I try to smooth the layers around my face.

“You’re getting really raggedy,” she says.

“That’s just hat hair. No point in fixing it when I’ll be wearing my hat again in five minutes.”

Kat pulls at her bottom lip. “At least tell me it’s a cute hat.”

“My yellow one.”

“Very cute. Just…don’t let yourself go.”

“I’m not.”

It feels more like I’m finding myself.

Annabelle: The laundry room is free

Grant: Glad the detergent monsters didn’t get you

Annabelle: Maybe I’ll run into you down there. Accidentally. Casually

Grant: Probably. We share a building

Annabelle: Buildings are very noncommittal

Grant: That’s what I like about them

Annabelle: Makes sense

Grant: There’s something else I like

Annabelle: Oh?