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I nod once immediately. “Okay. Thank you.”

Thank you?

That’s the best you’re got Blaire?

Then I look back at Simon. He’s leaning heavily into Veronica now, clearly more drunk than he should be. His eyes stay fixed on me, glassy and unfocused in a way that makes my throat tight.

“I’ll see you at pickup,” I say quietly. “Get home safe.”

Simon’s brows pull together. “Blaire.”

The way he says my name nearly stops me.

Soft, slurred, almost pleading.

I hate that my body still knows every version of my name in his voice.

I take another step backward.

Whatever he was going to say on the phone, whatever he was trying to tell me before I got here, it doesn't matter.

He's drunk, Veronica is standing right there, and I have enough dignity left not to stand in a bar parking lot waiting for another woman's boyfriend to say something he'll regret when he's sober.

His mouth opens like he wants to say something else, but Veronica is already steering him back towards the bar, and I turn before I can hear whatever it would’ve been.

I make it to my car, shut the door, and finally let out the breath I’ve been holding.

***

I wake up tangled in my blankets with a dull headache and mascara still faintly smudged under my eyes from not fully washing my face before bed.

For a second, I forget about last night completely. Then I grab my phone off the charger and remember all of it at once.

The date. The parking lot. Simon.

Sweet girl.

I open my messages.

Johnathon

I had a really great time last night. Hope everything ended up okay with your son’s father. I would love to see you again soon.

I stare at it. A man who handled the situation gracefully instead of making it weird.

Exactly the kind of person I should want.

Then I open my next unread message.

Simon

I’m sorry about last night.

No mention of calling me “sweet girl.” No mention of asking me to come get him. No mention of whatever the hell that expression on his face was in the parking lot.

I stare at the text longer than I should, thumb hovering over the keyboard while I try to figure out what the correct response even is.

Do I acknowledge it?