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“I’lad you’re back,” she says, hushed “He hasn’t been the same since you left”

“That’s what Cash said the other night too …”

“I think it really took a toll on hi things off In some ways, it’s like we really lost him after that” She toys with the silver and turquoise cross pendant on her neck, staring into the distance

“Renata, you know he stopped talking to ht?” I ask

Her thin brows knit “I don’t understand”

“Yeah One day ere talking and counting down the days until Thanksgiving break, and the next day, none ofI’d hear from him eventually I even had o through either” I’ve replayed that period ofwhat I could’ve done differently to get a hold of hio to his door and tell him in person to call s off, I didn’t want to look crazy or desperate And no one wants their dadin their love life anyway

Renata’s lips purse together “He told s so you could focus on your studies … I was under the impression that it was mutual”

Crossing my arms, I say, “I don’t knohy he would’ve lied about that”

“Me either” She drags in a ragged breath, and I find comfort in the fact that I’m not the only one completely stumped by all of this

“He said he never moved on Is that true?”

Renata shakes her head “Not to irl ho for a while if he was possibly playing for the other teaut tells me no”

I hadn’t considered that given how vigorous our sex life was and the way the littlest things I did (a tender kiss behind the ear, a teasing show of cleavage, the trace ofhis ar is possible at this point

“You’re co back tomorrow, yes?” she asks

“That’s the plan”

“Good,” she says, placing her hands on ive up on him”

“Renata, I’ … I just want to knohy he ghosted me”

Her mouth forms a flat line “I understand”

Without hesitation, she wraps