Page 42 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “The worst part is… I think he knows.”

“Knows what?” Andi asked.

“That I’m not okay,” I said. “Like, he looked at me and it was so obvious. He couldn’t even hide it.”

I paused, picking at the edge of a napkin.

“I mean, I’ve been posting everything on TikTok, so it’s not exactly a secret,” I added. “But still. There’s something about your ex seeing you like that in real life.” I let out a small, awkward laugh. “It’s embarrassing. It’s like… great, now you think I need saving.”

Andi and Mel exchange a quick glance.

It was subtle. Quick enough that I almost missed it.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” Mel answered.

Andi leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Okay, but serious question. Why can’t you get over Victor?”

There it was. Opening the wound again.

I exhaled slowly. “Honey says I’m hanging on to the fantasy.”

Mel nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Andi raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe the sex was just that good.”

I didn’t even hesitate. “The sex was that good.”

They both stared at me.

“What?” I said. “I’m being honest.”

Mel shook her head, smiling slightly. “There’s actually science behind that.”

“Here we go again,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“When you’re physically intimate with someone, your brain releases oxytocin—it’s the touch hormone. The bonding hormone. It makes you feel attached, safe—even if the person isn’t actually good for you.”

“And dopamine,” Andi added. “Don’t forget dopamine.”

Mel nodded. “Exactly. So you’re not just missing the person. You’re missing how your body felt with them.”

I leaned back. “That’s so annoying. Everyone keeps saying I’m not truly in love with Victor. But how can I deny what happened between us? It all felt real to me.”

Mel shook her head. “Nobody is saying that it wasn’t real, James. It was. It’s just that you need to know why, so you would know how to finally say goodbye.”

Andi turned to her, raised both palms, and they high-fived like what Mel said just cured cancer.

I rolled my eyes.

“Sometimes it’s chemical,” Mel shrugged. “Not necessarily emotional.”

“And that,” Andi said, “is exactly why you’re stuck.”

I frowned. “Great. So what do I do? Detox my body?”

Andi smiled. Slow. Dangerous. Certain.