too　tired　to　text　Dan　all　night。　How　e　you　never　texted　me　like　that？”　The　hurt　was　evident　in　his　voice。

Vanessa　shook　her　head。　At　one　point　in　her　life；　Dan　had　meant　more　to　her　than　anyone　ever　had。　He’d　been　her　best　friend；　her　confidant；　the　only　person　in　the　world　who　knew　her　better　than　she　knew　herself。　Even　though　they　hadn’t　spoken　for　two　years；　she　knew　he　still　understood　her。

But　it　seemed　too　impossible　to　try　to　explain　her　relationship　with　Dan。　To　explain　any　part　of　what　she　was　feeling　right　now。　It　was　as　if　she　and　Hollis　had　lost　their　ability　to　municate　a　long　time　ago　but　were　only　just　now　realizing　it。

She　gazed　at　his　balled…up　socks　under　the　coffee　table；　which　he　never　put　in　the　hamper。　Hurt　and　anger　and　confusion　bubbled　up　inside　of　her。　Suddenly；　she　felt　exhausted。　“Look；　this　isn’t　working；”　Vanessa　found　herself　saying；　her　voice　breaking。　“But　I　want　you　to　know　I　wasn’t　cheating。”

“I’m　going　to　go；”　Hollis　said。　He　stood　and　headed　up　the　spiral　stairs　to　their　sleeping　loft。　“Spend　a　few　days　away。　Clear　my　head。”

“No；　it’s　your　apartment。　Don’t　be　ridiculous。　I　just　need　a　few　minutes　to　pack。”

Upstairs；　she　threw　her　things　into　a　huge　army　green　duffel。　She　had　nowhere　to　go。　Ruby　and　Piotr’s　extended　family　were　having　a　New　Year’s　Eve　goat　roast　that　she　didn’t　want　to　crash。　There　was　too　much　snow　on　the　ground　to　get　a　bus　to　Vermont　to　her　parents’。　She　suddenly　found　herself　thinking　of　the　Upper　West　Side　and　Rufus’s　flambé。

Maybe　there　was　someplace　she　could　go；　after　all。

a　lot　can　go　wrong　in　the　cold　light　of　day

Jenny　felt　like　she　was　about　to　explode　from　the　secret　of　what　had　happened　last　night。　She　didn’t　want　to　sit　too　close　to　Nate；　i