BIGGER BUBBLES

*Chapter 18: The Argument*

It wasn’t about the big things.

It never is.

It was about a text.

And dishes.

And timing.

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*Thursday, 8:12pm*

Adrian was late.

Work ran over. He texted at 7:40: *Running 30 behind. Still ok to come over?*

Lily didn’t reply.

When he got to her place at 8:20, the porch light was off. Milo was at the window.

She opened the door in sweats. No smile.

“Hey. Sorry, the meeting—”

“It’s fine,” she cut in. “Come in.”

It wasn’t fine.

They ate the leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches in silence.

Adrian tried. “How was your day?”

“Long.”

He tried again. “Mark said hi.”

“Mhm.”

Finally he put his plate down. “What’s wrong?”

Lily looked at him. “You said 30 minutes. It was 50. And you didn’t answer when I texted back.”

“I did. At 7:45.”

“I didn’t get it till 8:05. I thought you bailed.”

The old fear. The old pattern.

Adrian felt it rise in his chest. “I told you I was coming.”

“And I told you I get anxious when I don’t hear back,” she said, voice getting tight. “We said no secrets. No disappearing.”

“I didn’t disappear. I was in a meeting!”

“You could’ve stepped out for 10 seconds.”

They stared at each other.

Milo went to his bed.

“I’m tired,” Lily said. “Of waiting to see if this is going to fall apart again. Every time you’re late I go back to 1am knocks and lies.”

“That’s not fair,” Adrian said. “I’m not him. I’m not doing that.”

“I know!” she snapped. Then quieter: “I know. But my brain doesn’t.”

Adrian stood up. Paced to the kitchen. Came back.

“I’m trying so hard to do this right. And one late text and we’re right back there?”

“I’m not saying we’re back there,” Lily said, tears now. “I’m saying I need you to tell me. Even if it’s ‘I’m drowning, talk later.’ Just _something_.”

Silence.

Adrian sat down on the floor. Not the couch. The floor.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I got defensive instead of listening. You’re right. I should’ve texted again.”

Lily sat down across from him. Knees almost touching.

“I’m sorry I jumped to the worst. I’m sorry I shut down instead of saying ‘I’m scared’ from the start.”

They didn’t hug. Not yet.

“I don’t want to fight like we used to,” Adrian said.

“Me neither,” Lily whispered. “Yelling. Leaving. Ghosting for days.”

“So what do we do instead?”

“We say it’s bad,” she said. “We take 10 minutes. And we come back.”

*10:05pm*

They took 10 minutes. Separate rooms.

Adrian drank water. Lily walked Milo around the block.

When she came back, he was still on the floor.

She sat next to him. Their shoulders touched.

“This sucks,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said. “But we didn’t run.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“I’m still mad you were late.”

“I know. I’m still sorry.”

“Okay.”

At 10:30pm he left.

Not because he had to. Because they agreed: don’t fix it at midnight. Fix it rested.

*10:33pm*

*Adrian: I’m sorry again. For real. I’ll do better with updates.*

*Lily: I’m sorry for shutting down. Thank you for coming back to the floor. See you tomorrow?*

*Adrian: Yeah. Coffee at 9. On time.