Liam
Leah invited me to dinner on Thursday.
I had not expected that.
I had prepared myself for time. Distance. The careful, measured silence of a woman who had just discovered half her life had been built around a lie. I had told myself I would not push. I would not check in too often. I would not turn wanting contact into another thing she had to manage.
Then my phone lit up at four-twelve.
Bella is having dinner with Jacob tonight. I’m making pasta. You can come if you want. No pressure.
I read it once.
Then again.
Then I replied too fast.
Yes. What time?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Six-thirty. You said yes very quickly.
I looked at the phone for a moment, then typed back.
I tried to wait three seconds. I failed.
Her answer came a minute later.
At l
