The words almost rush out of me, by habit. But … “No.” I walk away.

He texts twice more. I don’t look. The diner gets more crowded, and Noodle’s taking his time with the fries and shake. I want his table to turn over.

When I finally circle back to clear his dishes, he says, “No, seriously. I hate to think you’ve been waiting by the phone.” His hand teases my hip.

“Of course not,” I lie. “I have a life. It’s just … if you’re gonna drop by like this, it’d be nice to hear from you in between.”

“We’re not together anymore,” he says. As if I need reminding. “You got no claim on me. We’re chill. We’re casual. I thought that’s what you wanted. Just friends, and shit.”

“We’re not getting back together,” I assure him. “I’m not expecting anything.”

“Then why you giving me grief about a few texts, baby? We cool?”

“Sure. Yeah.” I want him to go. I want him to leave me alone before it all becomes too much and the inevitable happens. I’m not strong. Not nearly strong enough to fight all the things he reminds me of. Being held. Being part of a pair. Having someone who would always, always bring me home.

As if I have willed it, Noodle grabs his coat and slides out of the booth. He seems not to notice that I’m holding his dirty plates in my hand. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. “Love you,” he says. “Miss you.” He holds me just long enough that my body wants to relax into him and let him carry me away.

He leaves, and about ten minutes later, my phone vibrates again. This time, I check, just in case it’s not him.

I really miss you, Noodle texts. Come home with me tonight?

It may or may not be true. The truth is that I’ve missed him and he knows it.

STEVE CONNERS

“What are you doing in my room?” Will demands. He marches in through the open door and tosses his backpack onto his bed.

I drew the short straw on who gets to talk with Will. Actually, I lobbied for the gig, although at the moment it doesn’t exactly feel like a win.

My wife is hopping mad, too mad to have this conversation in a reasonable tone. “I will tear him limb from limb,” she announced, the moment she hung up from the school attendance office. They called to report that Will missed his afternoon classes.