Tiana should have known better.
Anytime Jeffery said, "I have an idea," it was never a normal idea.
"Absolutely not."
She didn't even look up from her phone.
"You haven't heard it yet," Jeffery said, offended.
"I don't need to. The last time you had an idea, I almost embarrassed myself in public."
"That was character development."
"That was trauma."
Jeffery gasped. "You're so ungrateful."
Tiana shook her head, but there was a small smile playing on her lips.
It was strange.
A few days ago, even smiling felt like effort.
Now…
It came a little easier.
Not fully.
But enough.
"Okay," Jeffery said, sitting forward. "New plan. Very serious. Very mature."
"That's already a lie."
"Can you relax?" he snapped. "This is about your healing."
Tiana raised an eyebrow. "I'm scared."
"You should be," he nodded.
She sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
Jeffery clapped once.
"We are going out."
"No."
"We are stepping outside."
"No."
"You are touching grass."
"Jeffery—"
"You have been inside, thinking, remembering, overanalyzing—"
"I am processing."
"You are suffering with extra steps."
Tiana paused.
"…That's rude."
"It's accurate."
She tried not to laugh.
Failed.
"Look," Jeffery said, softer now. "You can't heal in the same place you got hurt… while refreshing your phone every five minutes."
Tiana frowned slightly.
"I'm not refreshing my phone."
Jeffery stared at her.
Silently.
Slowly.
She picked up her phone.
Checked it.
Paused.
Then dropped it again.
"…Okay, maybe a little."
"Exactly," he said, pointing at her like he had just proven a scientific theory.
Tiana leaned back.
"You make everything sound simple."
"It is simple," Jeffery shrugged. "Not easy. But simple."
She went quiet for a moment.
Because that…
That made sense.
"Where are we even going?" she asked.
Jeffery grinned.
"Somewhere important."
"That doesn't sound safe."
"It's a food place."
"Oh."
She stood up immediately. "Why didn't you say that earlier?"
Jeffery blinked. "Wow. So healing is easier with food?"
"Yes."
"Noted."
An hour later, they were seated across from each other, plates of food between them.
Tiana didn't realize how hungry she was until the first bite.
Jeffery watched her carefully.
"See?" he said. "Half your problems are hunger."
She pointed her fork at him. "Don't oversimplify my heartbreak."
"I'm not," he said. "I'm supporting it nutritionally."
She laughed.
A real, full laugh this time.
And for a moment…
She forgot.
Not completely.
But enough to breathe.
Then, of course—
Her phone buzzed.
Jeffery froze mid-bite.
Tiana didn't move.
"Are we ignoring it?" he whispered dramatically.
"We're ignoring it," she confirmed.
He slowly nodded.
"I'm proud of you."
"Thank you."
The phone buzzed again.
And again.
Jeffery's eyes widened. "Oh, he's desperate."
Tiana exhaled.
Her chest tightened slightly.
But she stayed still.
"Don't look," Jeffery warned.
"I'm not."
"You're thinking about it."
"I'm always thinking," she muttered.
"Stop thinking."
"That's not how brains work."
"Return it."
She laughed again.
But this time, it faded quicker.
Because curiosity was creeping in.
Slow.
Persistent.
Jeffery noticed.
He always did.
"Okay," he said. "New rule."
"What?"
"If you check that message, you owe me food for a week."
Tiana blinked. "That's manipulation."
"That's strategy."
She hesitated.
Then slowly…
She pushed her phone further away on the table.
"I'm not checking it."
Jeffery leaned back, impressed. "Growth."
Tiana shook her head slightly.
"I'm just tired of reacting."
That was the truth.
Not strength.
Just exhaustion.
They ate in a more comfortable silence after that.
Until Jeffery spoke again.
Softer this time.
Less teasing.
More real.
"You know," he said, "you're allowed to be angry."
Tiana looked up.
"I'm not angry."
"That's the problem."
She frowned slightly.
Jeffery continued.
"You're always understanding. Always patient. Always seeing things from his side."
Tiana didn't respond.
Because he wasn't wrong.
"But what about you?" he added. "What about what you needed?"
That question stayed.
It didn't rush her.
Didn't pressure her.
It just… stayed.
"I think," Tiana said slowly, "I made him comfortable."
Jeffery tilted his head. "How?"
"By accepting everything," she replied. "Even the things that hurt me."
Jeffery nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "That'll do it."
She let out a small breath.
"I thought love meant being understanding."
"It does," Jeffery said.
She looked at him.
"But not at the cost of yourself," he added.
There it was.
The truth she had been circling around.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time…
She reached for it.
Jeffery didn't stop her.
He just watched.
Jones:
Please, Tiana. I don't want us to drift like this.
Her eyes lingered on the message.
Her chest tightened.
Because the words sounded right.
They always did.
Jeffery spoke quietly.
"What do you want?"
Tiana stared at the screen.
For a long moment.
Then locked her phone.
Placed it face down.
And looked up.
"I want clarity."
Jeffery nodded slowly.
"Then maybe it's time you stop avoiding the conversation."
She held his gaze.
Because she knew what that meant.
A confrontation.
A real one.
No hiding.
Tiana took a deep breath.
And for the first time…
She didn't feel afraid of that idea.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Jeffery raised an eyebrow. "Okay?"
She nodded.
"Okay."
Next time they spoke…
It wouldn't be the same.