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“You have a good trip?” I ask her instead.
She nods again, cheeks pink. From the cold or me, I don’t know.
“So you’re probably heading off then, right?” I ask, trying not to grimace. “Tomorrow?”
She takes a few quick steps in front of me, turns on her heel and walks backwards, facing me.
“Um—” She lets out a single laugh. “Actually, no.”
“What?”
She clears her throat. “Dennen offered me Style Editor if I stay.”
“Oh.” I blink. “Fuck.” She looks taken aback. I shake my head. “I mean — wow.” I lick my top lip, frown more than I mean to. “Congratulations—?”
She looks up at me, confused. “Thank… you?”
I say nothing. Just stare at her, face tight.
Fuck.
Fuck! What am I going to do?
She watches me close.
“Is this a problem?”
“What?” I blink. “No — yeah—”
“Yes?” Looks like I’ve smacked her.
“No—” I shake my head. “No, it’s — your home. So. No. I just thought you were gone. Like, for good, you know?”
Her head pulls back. I’ve hurt her. Know the look, know the face. Done it too many times not to.
She takes a step away from me. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
“No, Parks.” I sigh. “It’s — you’re not — I just—”
“You have a girlfriend. I know.”
I give her a look. “Not just a girlfriend, the only girlfriend I’ve ever had besides you.”
She throws daggers at me with her eyes.
And I don’t know what I am. Annoyed a bit. Confused. Relieved? Fucking thrown for six.
She’s staying? I can’t believe she’s staying.
“Yeah, I know — that’s great.” She nods. “Message received.”
“Parks…”
“Actually—” She shakes her head, points a finger at me. “Do you know what? Fuck you. All tender and touchy, and sweet with me these last few days—”
“We were dealing with a decade-old trauma.”
“‘Sexy in everything.’” She shakes her head at me. “All while thinking that I was leaving?”
