"Jill, I don't know what you're thinking, but honestly? It kind of seems like your boyfriend's fallen in love again."
"I saw them at a bar the other night—they were practically glued together."
...
The rumors had never stopped. And I'd never believed them.
But looking at the smile on his face, I wasn't sure anymore.
I became paranoid. Suspicious.
I started showing up at every gathering, watching their every interaction.
I'd probe his friends for their opinions, studied those relationship advice posts online to figure out whether what they had was really "just friendship."
Until one night, I crept out of bed, grabbed his phone, and went through every app.
The moment I turned off the screen, I saw his eyes—wide open in the darkness.
In my panic, I accidentally called Laura.
The call connected almost instantly. Her voice was thick with a coyness I'd never heard before.
"Jeffrey? Did you actually put a tracker in my brain? I was just lying here thinking about you, and you called. What, don't tell me you were thinking about me too—"
"Laura." My voice cut through. "Have you no shame?"
Silence on the other end. Before I could say another word—
Jeffrey snatched the phone from my hand.