Page 62 of Desserts for Stressed People

After I’m done with some work and there’s nothing else I can possibly do, I clean. The white marble of the kitchen and the white wooden floors in the living room accumulate dust fairly quickly, and it’s noticeable enough that I vacuum every other day.

When half of the afternoon is gone, Alex is still out, Shane still hasn’t answered, and I don’t have any extra work to focus on. The apartment is clean, and I wonder if I should go to the square, by the horses fountain. Maybe I’ll stumble into Shane again.

When the noise in my brain gets so loud I can hardly think anymore, I grab my phone and open RadaR. My eyes land on a green round icon next to Shane’s name, and my heart almost cracks. It feels as if someone kicked me in my stomach, bruising my ribs, and now every breath stings.

He’s not talking to me, but he’s online.

That’s never happened before, and I’ve checked plenty of times. He’s obviously talking to other girls. Does what happened yesterday have something to do with this?

I can’t stop myself. I open our chat and type.

Nevaeh:

Hi, there. How’s your weekend going?

I stare at the screen and groan when I realize what a stupid thing I’m doing. He’s not talking to me, so I’m tricking him. What the hell is wrong with me?

Once the three dots appear, I take a deep breath. I can’t help the relief I feel. I haven’t talked to him in twenty-four hours, and I miss him.

Shane:

Whoa! A non-instigated message from the one and only Nevaeh. I’m flattered.

Nevaeh:

You could have said, “My weekend is wonderful #FeelingBlessed” like everyone else.

Shane:

My weekend is wonderful #FeelingBlessed #YOLO. How’s yours?

His weekend isn’t that good, I’m afraid, but I won’t insist and use my alter ego for evil purposes. I’m already fucking up my karma for the next twenty years.

Nevaeh:

A little boring, I have to say.

Shane:

Another marathon?

I bray like a mule. Has this handsome, successful man nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than watch sci-fi movies and text with me?

Nevaeh:

Your favorite movies this time.

Shane:

Sure. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. #PutARingOnIt

Nevaeh:

Are you serious?

I’m half-convinced he’s just saying that. It’s a safe bet to impress me—he knows I’m into sci-fi and fantasy movies because we’ve discussed it at length.

Shane: