Page 21 of Lovesick

“I saw you come out of Dean’s office,” she said carefully. “You looked…not okay.”

I turned away, pretending to shuffle papers on my desk. “I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

There was a long pause, the air thick with everything I couldn’t say.

“I’m just not feeling great,” I finally said. “Headache. Migraine, maybe.”

Her eyes dropped to the tote bag, half full of my things. “You’re packing.”

I didn’t look up. “Just grabbing a few things to work from home.”

Leann stepped closer, her heels quieter than mine ever were. She didn’t say anything for a second. “Did he do something?”

My throat closed.

“Emilia,” she said gently. “I’m not trying to push. But you’re shaking. And whatever happened in that office…it wasn’t just a work conversation.”

“I can’t talk about it,” I whispered. I hoped she didn’t put the pieces together. Hoped she didn’t figure out that the issues I told her about were because of Dean.

She hesitated. “Okay. Then don’t. But I don’t want you to lie to me, either.”

I finally looked up at her, and she must’ve seen the break in me, the tiny fracture that was ready to crack wide open at the slightest touch. Her face softened, her brows pulling together.

“I just need to leave for today,” I said, my voice barely steady. “I need air. Space. Something other than…this.”

Leann nodded slowly. “Okay. I won’t tell anyone, don’t worry.”

“Thank you,” I murmured. I lowered my eyes again. “I really don’t want to talk about…him.”

“You don’t have to. But I’m here, if or when you do.”

There was something about her voice in that moment that made my throat close up. I nodded quickly, because if I opened my mouth, I’d cry. She reached out and touched my arm, just for a second, then stepped back.

“You’re stronger than you think,” she said with a tight smile before she left.

The door clicked shut behind her, and I stood there in the silence she left behind, her words echoing in my chest.

It was then when I knew that Dean wasn’t going to follow me.

He wouldn’t come down the hallway, wouldn’t knock on my door.

He was done.

And maybe I needed to be done too.

I grabbed the tote, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out without saying another word.

Not to Leann.

Not to Dean.

Not to anyone.

Just silence.

For once, that would have to be enough.

---