Page 29 of The Exit Strategy

“Emotionally constipated, obviously,” Katie insists. “The man hasn’t expressed a single genuine feeling in four episodes.”

“I’m seeing protectively stoic,” Junie fires back, gesturing with a too-full wineglass that sloshes rosé dangerously close to Dollie’s cookie tin. “He’s not withholding because he doesn’t feel things. He’s withholding because he feels too much and doesn’t know what to do with it. He’s a protector. A fixer. Those guys don’t talk about their feelings.”

My beer stops halfway to my mouth.

Isshe talking about me?

I set my beer down because my hands caught a tremor I can’t hide.

Bea, who has said nothing all evening, catches my eye from across the room. Her look says a thousand words thatall relay the same message:I see what’s happening here. Do you?

I busy myself by tossing an empty wine bottle, but my focus snaps to attention when Dollie mentions the cocktail party dress code and Junie laughs.

She…laughs.

Not the sharp, controlled one she parcels out like a woman on a budget. This one escaped her defenses. It’s loud and startled and immediate. She claps her hand over her mouth as though she can shove it back in.

But it’s too late.

I heard it.

The sound hits me somewhere I wasn’t braced for. Which is every-fucking-where. That’s the problem with Junie—she doesn’t aim, but she never misses.

Katie turns to me with a saccharine smile that’s pure vindication. “Smiling. Again,” she mouths, then taps something into her phone.

I’ll talk to Katie later about whatever data she’s collecting. But not tonight. Tonight, I’m too busy memorizing the exact pitch of a sound I thought I’d never hear again.

The S&S members return to their debate, but Junie’s posture has changed, and I’m cataloguing that too. Her arms are uncrossed. She’s leaning forward. Several minutes into the second episode, Stanley refills her glass without being asked, and she takes it without breaking eye contact with the screen because she’s smiling.

It’s sweet and unguarded.

And it makes me forget all reason.

As stealthily as possible, I capture the moment on my phone and send a message before I can talk myself out of it.

Fen & Tonic:

Cole: Picture sent.

I hadn’t noticed until just now, but while Junie stares at the screen, Dollie’s staring at Junie and Katie’s staring at…me with a smirk that saysgotcha.

Shit.

Fen: Holy fuck.

Hudson: She’s…

Hudson: Smiling.

Fen: How does that make you feel, Cole?

Goddamn it. That was a mistake. I blame the second beer I downed after seeing her in action.

What the fuck will Nolan think?

He doesn’t make me wait long. Even with the time difference, Nolan always responds to our group chat. Especially when it concerns his sister.

Nolan: Thank you, Cole.