I wanted to run after him, apologize, beg forgiveness even though I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d done wrong. How that whole conversation had slipped away from me so quickly, I didn’t know. But nothing about it had been what I’d wanted to say.

Only I didn’t run after him. I stood with my arms wrapped around my middle as I watched Cal climb into his Hummer, slamming the door shut behind him so violently I was surprised it didn’t fall off its hinges. Then he roared the beast to life and gunned the engine, his tires squealing as he raced out of the complex like he couldn’t wait to be rid of me.

I took a deep breath. I counted to ten. I told those tears if they dared to fall down my cheeks they were dead meat.

Tina?

I sniffed hard. Yeah? I answered, my voice only marginally shaky.

Aunt Sue came up behind me. I ordered a large pepperoni. Cal’s not staying for dinner?

Do not cry. Don’t you dare cry! No. I cleared my throat, swiping the back of my hand over my damp cheeks. No, Cal’s gone.

Oh. That’s too bad. Well, I hope you’re hungry at least?

I turned, pasted a smile on my face, and lied through my teeth. Famished.

One pizza and three hours later, I’d tucked Aunt Sue into bed with a paperback Nora Roberts and slipped on a pair of sweats, snuggling into my own bed. But, as drained as I was, I wasn’t quite ready to fall asleep yet.

There was one more person I had to talk to first.

I grabbed my laptop from my bag and booted it up, barely waiting until the welcome screen had cleared before opening an IM window and hoping he was still up.

He was.

My heart lurched as soon as I saw his little online now icon. I quickly typed.

Hey, Black.

Hey, Bender. I’d almost given up on you.

Sorry. Rough day.

There was a pause. Then, Your column in the Informer this morning have anything to do with that?

Yeah.

Tell me.

So, I did. Everything. From the ridiculousness of our makeshift funeral for Mrs. C. to the chase through the many lands of Small World and Millie’s amazing Sword in the Stone rescue. Black interjected with a lot of Wow’s and Are you okay’s. The only thing I held back was the fight with Cal and the growing bruise it had left in my chest. Though, I guess I mentioned his name enough in my narrative that the first thing Black said when he responded was, So, how do you feel about this Cal guy?

I bit my lip. I don’t know, I said, truthfully.

You like him?