SETH: Tara? Can you say something please?

SETH: I’m trying to apologize. I guess I’m not doing a very good job of it.

SETH: God, Tara. I am so very sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was none of my business.

The tightness in Tara’s chest eased a little at his apology. But her lack of response increased the desperation in his pleas.

SETH: Please forgive me. I will never act like a jealous fool again.

So he had been jealous. A small smile lifted one corner of her mouth. Although she had every right to feel a bit vengeful after the things he’d said, she shouldn’t enjoy her power over him this much. But it felt good that it wasn’t just her who was tortured by the green beast.

SETH: Did you mean it? Are you done with me?

SETH: Please tell me you didn’t mean it.

SETH: Tara? Are you going to ignore me forever?

SETH: Well, I sure as hell am not done with us.

SETH: Goddammit just say something. Anything.

Tara gasped and sat up on the bed. Oh, no. He was suffering, and she was here gloating over his messages.

TARA: Anything.

The ellipses began scrolling immediately on the screen.

SETH: Just one second. I’m going to collapse on the couch from relief.

TARA: Oh. Take your time.

SETH: Were you torturing me with your silence for fun?

TARA: Maybe …

SETH: I can’t say I blame you.

TARA: You wouldn’t dare after the dick move you pulled.

SETH: No, I wouldn’t. Tell me. What was going on with you? Are you okay?

She loved that he was worried about her despite the ordeal she’d unintentionally put him through.

TARA: I fell asleep. It seems having a fight with you sucks away all my energy.

There was a short pause.

SETH: I’m so sorry, Tara.

TARA: You should be.

SETH: I am.

TARA: Good.

SETH: Will you forgive me?

Not wanting to put him through more unnecessary torment, she replied succinctly.

TARA: Yes.

There was another pause. A bit longer this time.

SETH: Thank God. You scared the shit out of me.

TARA: I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to hurt you.

SETH: That’s fine. I deserved it.

TARA: It’s not fine. I shouldn’t say things like that lightly.

SETH: I have to see you. Right now. I need to hold you.

She wrote her next message with her heart beating double time.

TARA: Leaving now.

She rose to her feet, picking up the purse she’d thrown on the ground, and rushed out of her room. She found one of her shoes at the start of the hallway and the other one by the front door. Slipping them on, she rushed to the driveway and hopped into her car.

An odd urgency filled her, and her foot grew heavy on the gas pedal. She couldn’t believe that they wasted precious time fighting. Not wanting to be pulled over—and to waste more time before she could see Seth—she constantly checked herself and slowed down, but she got to Aubrey’s house much sooner than the speed limits would’ve allowed.