Only it was so much more than that. I swiped back to the home screen and let my eyes drop down to the icon for Messages. I ignored the slight trace of guilt that rushed over me as I clicked on it and watched as a list of names popped up. There was Tiff, Mom, and a long list of other names. I opened a few threads, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

His mother had asked if he was going to make Gary’s wedding in October.

He’d texted someone named Sal a GIF of a penguin falling over.

This was what celebrities did with their time?

Then I saw it.

A conversation thread with someone simply named “M.”

I said it out loud in the dark room, and the realization made my pulse quicken.

Em.

Jackpot.

Yesterday, 6:17 p.m.

M: What time u coming over?

Ryan: Don’t know, late. All clear?

M: Yeah, tonight’s good. Miss u. Sorry about yesterday.

Ryan: It’s ok. Miss u too.

July 28, 9:06 p.m.

Ryan: I get into town Thursday night. Wanna see you.

M: Can’t always get what we want ;)

Ryan: I tend to.

M: Wow, lol. Think that attitude is going to work?

Ryan: I do.

Ryan: Am I right?

9:15 p.m.

Ryan: Ruh roh.

Ryan: Hello?

Ryan: #toomuchconfidencefail?

M: LOL

M: Almost.

March 4, 2:39 a.m.

Ryan: U up?

Ryan: Sorry

M: No, I am. Had a rough day.

Ryan: I’m sorry. Want to talk?

M: Are you at home?

Ryan: Yeah. But Tiff’s not. Now okay?

M: Yeah, call me.

March 4, 4:03 a.m.

M: I don’t know what I would do without you. Good night.

Ryan: Love you.

My heart was pounding as I pushed the button to return to the home screen.

Love you?

I damn sure hadn’t expected that. Their relationship was cuter, funnier, more comfortable than I’d imagined it would be.

This was no celebrity hookup.

But that didn’t change anything.

I had to do what I had to do.

With shaky fingers, I opened Twitter, which was already logged into his account. He wasn’t following me back, so I couldn’t message him directly from my own account, but maybe…

I opened his messages and began typing in his own username.

@RyanHooksOfficial.

The message populated his name in the to field, and I let out a deep breath.

I could send a message from Ryan to Ryan.

I just had to pray he checked it on his computer, since he certainly wouldn’t be doing so on his phone.

I thought for a moment and then typed out a short note.

@RyanHooksOfficial: 115. Makes sense.

Before I could stop myself, I pressed Send.

I immediately pushed the button at the top of the screen to turn it off before tossing the phone into my purse.