I saw the message the moment it came in.
Liam: Are you sure?
I didn't open it right away.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the faint hum of the generator outside. The room smelled like my soap, clean and familiar, but nothing about tonight felt settled.
My phone buzzed again.
I unlocked it.
Liam: Did I push too hard?
I sat up slowly, back against the headboard.
He never asked questions like that. Not with me. He usually assumed we were fine because we always were.
I typed.
Yes.
Deleted it.
Typed again.
I don't know.
Deleted.
My thumb hovered, trembling slightly.
What would happen if I told him the truth?
I imagined his confusion. His laugh. The way he'd say my name like he always did, warm and easy, and then—nothing would change.
That hurt more than lying.
Me: I'm just tired. Really.
Sent.
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
I watched them, holding my breath.
They disappeared.
Minutes passed.
I checked the time. 11:47 p.m.
I rolled onto my side, hugging my pillow, trying not to think about the way he'd sat closer to Claire without realising. The way he'd looked at her when she laughed.
My phone lit up again.
Liam: Okay. Get some rest.
That was all.
I stared at the message, waiting for more.
Nothing came.
I opened our chat history, scrolling back without meaning to. Old messages. Inside jokes. Missed calls at two in the morning. Come over. I need you.
He'd always needed me.
I locked the screen quickly, like I'd been caught doing something wrong.
For the first time, I wondered what would happen if I stopped answering first.
Another vibration.
My heart jumped.
It wasn't a message.
It was a call.
Liam.
I stared at the screen as it rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
My thumb hovered over the answer button.
I thought of his voice. Of the way he'd say, Hey, it's me.
I thought of Claire's hand brushing his. Of his knee pressed against hers.
The call stopped.
Silence filled the room.
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed again.
Liam: Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you.
I swallowed hard.
I didn't reply.
I turned my phone face down and closed my eyes, heart pounding.
Tonight, I wasn't fixing things.
I was breaking a habit.
And I had no idea what that would cost me.