Alice’s POV
I was rinsing off the last plate when my phone buzzed from where it sat on the kitchen counter. I dried my hands on a dish towel and walked over to check the message.
Grumpy: I’ll come pick you up tomorrow so we can go home together.
I stared at the message for a second, then typed back quickly.
Me: I’ll go myself.
No reply.
I stood there for a moment, phone still in hand, then sighed and shoved it into my pocket. Brian had a way of making the air feel heavier without even being present.
When I finished the dishes, Jane and Leah insisted we spend the rest of the morning together, since I’d be leaving for the weekend.
“I found the most epic movie of all time,” Jane declared proudly, arms crossed like she had discovered buried treasure.
I grabbed a napkin and wiped the w
