RY'

things or making things up. The screen still showed the same message from this morning. I had barel

your girlfriend does w

ad lodged itself in my chest like a splinter. I felt hollow and s

eart was hammering, mind racing. When I called her earlier, my voice had been flat, almost polite. "We need to talk. Tonight. Home. 7pm." I ended t

p breath and l

ber for my doubt and hours later, I'd freshen up and br

er shoulders tense, her eyes wide, as though she'd been holding her breath al

by the door. She closed it gently, as if she

ady. I didn't move from the couch. Instead, I g

I watched her closely. Her dress was neat but simple-nothing like the outfit she'd worn when she broug

asked to see you. You went in. Eva . And I walked in on you two alone," I paused and shook my head. "What do you have to s

ame, an involuntary wince. She opened her mo

ice was calm, but the tremor underneath it was unm

e there," I demanded. "Why

buried in work and I wanted to surprise you. Yo

eft early, and went straight to him?" My voice rose wi

ked up, pain and frustration mingli

e blinked back tears

e he asked me to. I didn't refuse because I was scared of what he

ightened. Part of me wanted to be

as I pulled out my pho

l. Someone is trying to wreck us, to turn us against each other before we

cing again. "Someone?

t know who. But it's someone with access to bo

this is a conspiracy? That some phanto

her cheeks. "Yes. And I'm sorry you have to

blow. I wanted to find an explanation that didn't involve betrayal. I wa

I said, voice low. "Show me who se

I keep deleting their messages but they jus

Have you saved

They scramble the sende

rough my hair. "All right." My shoulders slumped. "Let's say you're telling t

rm. "We stick together. We refuse to give them the

eyes. For a moment the rage and doubt melte

"because I love you. But this almost destro

know. I'm so sorry. I never meant t

and held it tight. "Okay.

mall, grateful smile. Re

e reflect

buzzed on the coffee ta

yelped softly. She looked

I asked, moving

he screen, her br

the same text,

ver her shou

now that there

lood r

e phone. I caugh

e, pale and colla

rled. "What d

ching everything. They know who we both are and they

"We'll stop this. We'l

gain, this time I di

w, did they send

f panic in every glance. "No... not really . I have to go, it's urge

asked angrily and immediatel