Page 21 of Every Broken Piece
GS: That’s an interesting choice of words. Why are you hiding from the world, Tess?
I almost throw my phone down and back away from it because he’s asking for things I can’t give. I hate saying no to anyone—hence why I usually go out when Amelia asks—but this I can’t answer, not in the detail he’s expecting. Instead, I give him a flippant reply.
Me: People
GS: ???
Damn it. I should have known he wouldn’t let it go.
Me: People exhaust me. Last night was fun but it’s time to do what I like to call recharging my social battery.
GS: I see
Me: lol I’m sure you don’t
GS: Why would you say that?
Me: I know who you are, Mr. Strong. I bet your social battery never gets low
GS: Please don’t call me Mr. Strong. You make me feel old. And my social battery has died a time or two. I get wanting to hide
Is he referring to his wife dying so tragically at such a young age? I don’t ask because that’s crossing a line I’m already toeing pretty liberally.
GS: You still there?
Me: Still here
GS: I’ll let you go so you can recharge. I hope you have a very peaceful, people free day
Me: It’s just me, my book, and my blankie
GS: That sounds amazing. Maybe I’ll find a bookstore and buy a book to read
I Google the closest bookstore to him and send the directions.
Me: Don’t forget to buy a blankie too
GS: Always working, aren’t you? Thank you for the store recommendation. Enjoy your day, Tess
Chapter eleven
Tess
Monday comes and I wonder how Gabe’s meeting went with his client after he delivered the bad news. While I feel for the client, I feel more for Gabe. It's sometimes hard to figure out people's emotions through text, he seemed upset that the news wouldn’t be good.
I keep my work phone close all day, even taking it into the bathroom with me, but he doesn’t text. In fact, I don’t hear from him at all on Monday.
The same goes for Tuesday.
I still send him my good morning texts, but they go unanswered as they always have.
I totally read more into our Saturday morning texting than I should have and that’s on me. How many times do I have to tell myself that men like Gabriel Strong aren’t interested in women like Theresa James?
On Wednesday my personal phone rings and I lunge for it, my heart pounding. I don’t know why I think it’s Gabe. He doesn’t have my personal number and if he needed something he’d textmy work phone. It’s a number I don’t recognize so I let it go to voicemail, but the person doesn’t leave a message. Probably a robocall.
I receive a few more of those calls throughout the day but ignore them. They always seem to come in batches, these calls.
Amelia: What do you want to do for your birthday?
