Now, the TV’s still there, but everything else is gone, replaced by sleek leather sofas and a black coffee table. There’s not even a hint that I used to live here, and I don’t know if I feel sad or amazed. If I didn’t recognize the floor plan, I’d wonder if this is even the same condo.

“Looks like a real bachelor pad,” I say flatly. “You did a good job redecorating the place.”

“Thanks,” he replies. “It took me a while to figure out what I was doing, but I think I’m finally getting somewhere. All the home and real estate articles I wrote for Horizon finally came in handy.”

What are you doing? a voice says in the back of my head. Get out of here. This isn’t your home anymore.

James opens the closet door to reveal four boxes stacked together. I can only assume that’s all my stuff. James carries them to the living room, and I sit on one of the sofas to go through and make sure I have everything.

Before I can even process what he’s doing, James goes to the kitchen and comes back with two glasses and an all-too-familiar bottle.

My stomach turns. “Isn’t that the wine we bought the last time we went to Napa with your parents?” I wince, thinking about the post I had to delete from my Instagram.

A pained look also flashes across James’s face. “I know. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it after…” He trails off and clears his throat, before trying again. “What better time to drink it than now, right?”

I smile tightly and accept a glass of wine from James. But I don’t make any real move to drink it. And neither does he.

“So…” James settles down on the couch beside me with his own glass in one hand. Thankfully, he maintains a careful distance, probably to avoid making things even weirder. Compared to how close we sat together in this living room in the past, the way we’re sitting now feels strange, like we’ve fallen into some kind of parallel universe.

“So?” I set my wine down on the coffee table.

“Are you…” He laughs awkwardly and continues, “Still with that girl? Celeste, right? Your college ex. I was surprised to see her at the New Year’s party. I thought she moved to Korea, or at least, that’s what I remember you telling me.”

“No,” I reply. I don’t elaborate.

“Oh, okay. Daphne and I were seeing each other, but it was… a bit of a roller coaster. I learned the hard way that I’m not ready for another relationship.”

My ears perk up with surprise, but I pretend not to be interested. Instead, I keep my eyes focused on my hands and say, “And you’re telling me this why?”

James shrugs. “I thought you’d want to know.”