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Something dark happens in his face.
I recognize it.
That door.
The one he shuts when caring gets too close.
My heart starts beating harder.
No.
Not here.
Surely not here.
Boogie lifts both hands. “My bad.”
Bitter’s voice comes low.
“She ain’t my girl.”
Nobody moves.
My lungs forget their job.
Mercy says his name like a warning. “Bitter.”
He keeps looking at me.
I wait.
Maybe that is all. Maybe he is technically right. We never called me his girlfriend.
Except we agreed to exclusivity.
Except he held me all night.
Except everyone in this garage watched him orbit me for days like gravity had been rewritten.
Except he cheated, and somehow I am still standing here hoping he will stop.
I hate myself for that last part.
Boogie clears his throat. “Right. Poor word choice.”
Bitter should let it die.
Instead, he says, “Never was.”
The words land quietly.
That makes them worse.
Someone curses under their breath.
I think Ghoul.
Mercy takes one step forward, but I touch her arm.
