the　stairs　and　plunked　down　on　the　chair　opposite　him。　But　Hollis　was　busy　squinting　down　at　his　iPhone。

Finally；　he　looked　up；　his　gaze　icy。　“How’s　Dan？”

A　shiver　of　fear　ran　up　her　spine。　Hollis　was　reading　the　texts　on　her　phone。　“Dan　and　I　were　texting　last　night。　While　you　were　out；”　she　said　coldly。　She　wasn’t　going　to　be　made　to　feel　guilty　when　she　hadn’t　done　anything。

“Just　texting？　‘Depends　who　I’m　meeting　on　the　roof？’”　he　said　in　a　mocking　tone。　“No　wonder　you　didn’t　e　out　with　my　friends。　You　wanted　to　go　meet　up　with　Dan。”

“What？　No！”　Vanessa　screeched；　her　voice　echoing　in　her　ears。　This　was　ridiculous。　Nothing　could　be　further　from　the　truth。　Last　night　she’d　eaten　half　a　tub　of　Ciao　Bella　on　the　couch　with　her　feet　under　Norma。　Which　was　pretty　much　how　she　spent　all　her　time　these　days。　For　the　last　year；　she’d　been　stupidly　devoted　to　Hollis。　She’d　put　her　whole　life　on　hold　for　him。

“What　else　am　I　supposed　to　think？”　Hollis　asked　in　exasperation。　Norma　emitted　a　low…pitched　whine　from　the　floor；　as　if　to　say　she　didn’t　want　any　part　of　this。　“You　didn’t　want　to　go　out　last　night；　you　didn’t　even　try　to　be　friendly　with　the　Streetscape　people—it’s　like　you　don’t　even　care…。”　Hollis　shook　his　head　ruefully。　“Long　distance　sucks；　I　know　that。　But　it　wasn’t　like　I　was　in　Iceland　for　fun。　I　was　working。　You　of　all　people　should　appreciate　that。”

Vanessa　blinked　back　angry　tears。　Outside；　the　city　was　blanketed　in　snow；　quiet　and　cold。　“You’ve　been　with　the　film　people　all　the　time；　then　you　just　e　home　and　expect　me　to　be　your　personal　assistant；”　she　retorted。　“I　didn’t　want　to　go　out　because　I　was　fucking　exhausted　from　picking　up　after　you。”

“Really？　Really；　Vanessa？”　Hollis　snorted。　“Guess　you　weren’t