“Hey, Alina, so sorry to bother you,” Vance says as he waddles over to my desk and leans against it. “Did you already send the images from the softball banquet?”

“Yes,” I answer, short and sweet so he knows not to keep going, but it’s Vance.

“Oh, okay cool,” he says in his baby blue sweater vest over a salmon button-up and cargo pants. Somewhere, DeShaun is having an aneurysm. “I was going to tell you not to rush or anything, but since you're already on top of it, I guess I can keep my big mouth closed.”

Somehow, me keeping my eyes glued to my computer instead of looking up gives Vance the impression that he should continue. Unreal.

“So, how have you been?” he asks, and I let out a loud sigh, because I know exactly where this is going. “I heard you and Nas broke up. Is that true?”

There it is. It has only been three days since I left Nas at his house, and after telling Juliana what happened, the news has somehow spread to everyone I know. When I walked into the office after the weekend, it felt like the whole place was staring at me. Pity hung in the air like smog and I wanted to turn around and walk right back out. I know Nas hasn’t said anything to anyone, but it feels like he put out a press release to the entire world. Does everybody know I’m miserable?

I slowly turn around in my chair and look up at Vance, who smiles at me in the way I used to think was so cute. Now, all I see is weakness. I’m not the same girl I was when we dated. I’m ten times stronger and require so much from my partner, and I know Vance doesn’t have the ability to give me what I need. He can smile until his face gets stuck that way, but that posture, that demeanor, that voice, that meekness—none of it could ever win me over. There’s only one person who can tame the animal inside me, but he’s too much of an asshole to keep the job.

“What difference does it make, Vance?” I ask, my face completely devoid of emotion, because I truly couldn't care less about his feelings.

“I … I don't know,” he mumbles, looking down at the floor before struggling to pull his eyes up to meet mine. I can't even. “I was just curious and wanted to make sure you're okay, that’s all.”