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Lil: This Connor guy, there’s some history there, right? From college?

Mary: Yeah. We never talked much back then. I always got the sense he disliked me for some reason.

Gemma: Hmm, so the question is, does he still dislike you now? Spoiler. I don’t think so.

Lil: Ooh, maybe he had a secret crush on you back then!

Mary: I doubt it.

Gemma: This sounds like a movie or fairy tale.

Lil: *popcorn emoji*

Mary: Hopefully one with a happy ending.

Gemma: Guaranteed. Because the way he rushed in to play knight-in-shining-armor says it all.

Gemma: So, are you gonna throw your hair down to let him up or not, Rapunzel?

I can’t deny the charged tension that seems to crackle between us whenever we’re together or the way I falter when he’s around me.

Mary: He was hired by my father. It would certainly complicate things.

Lil: Would it really?

Mary: I need to apologize first. Still embarrassed how I acted up.

Mary: Maybe he said everything out of pity.

Gemma: Stop.

Gemma: Stop talking yourself out of this.

Mary: I know. I’m just… What if the Chris debacle repeats?

Gemma: Connor isn’t Chris. From what you’ve told us and what I remember from college, he seems better. Doubt my brother would be friends with an asshole.

He is different. Not only from Chris, but from back then. More confident, almost… dangerous in a way?

Yet, he makes me feel safe, which is so foreign to how distant he was in college, tapping away on his laptop, always sitting alone in the corner. It was kind of strange seeing him again, now dressed in a business suit instead of his usual black hoodie and jeans.

What crossed his mind when he looked at me back then? Did he see the same pathetic woman I was on Friday?

I bury my face in a throw pillow with a groan.

How should I face Connor now?

He’s nothing like those wolves in suits because, despite my harsh words, he hugged and comforted me.

I’m horrible.

I don’t want to do anything except disappear and just sit here and… not exist.

All this moping won’t do me any good. I need a distraction.

Crossing over to the speaker dock, I scroll through my phone for a pop playlist. As soon as it’s on, I belt out the lyrics and dance around the apartment in my yoga pants and oversized sweater.

Just me, dancing like nobody’s watching, and it’s the best therapy ever.

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