Page 75 of Smoke and Glitter

She looks up.

"That's it?"

"Every beautiful word."

Her mouth tightens.

"He knows you leave tomorrow."

"Yep."

"And this was his big swing?"

"That's the whole campaign."

I take the phone back.

"I wrote two replies and deleted both."

"What did you write?"

"The first one told him I was leaving tomorrow, which was pointless because you already told him."

"And the second?"

"Is that seriously all you have to say to me?"

Summer's expression softens. "Why didn't you send it?"

I turn the phone facedown on the table.

"Because I already asked him the questions that mattered."

"Are you ready to tell me what actually happened?"

I stare at the pastry between my fingers for a second before setting it down.

"I heard him talking to Bex."

Summer goes still.

"He called us casual. No strings. No labels. Said we weren't serious."

"Jesus."

"Bex asked if I wanted more."

Summer waits.

"He said it wasn't that deep."

Her face hardens.

"I went home."

"What did you do after that?"

"I went back."