Page 106 of Once Upon a Lie

I stand there, staring at the shattered pieces of my phone, knowing I just destroyed a good woman. Knowing I’m in love with her and still managed to break her fucking heart.

I’ll never be the same.

38

Valentina

11:55 a.m.

It’s been a morning and a half at The Hole Story, and with the way Shane and I left things last night, I’ve been running on fumes. Sunnie and Cher both asked if I’m coming down with a bug and suggested I go home to get some rest, but I need the time to be busy with my hands anyway. It helps me think, gives me clarity, and prevents me from running to Shane’s door and wailing like a clingy, unhinged baby.

By the time I check my phone, it’s nearing noon, and at the sight of a message notification from Shane on the screen, my shoulders relax. Give them time to come to you, my mind whispers, and they will.

I click open the thread while I wipe some flour off my elbow onto my apron, and scan down to the bottom, where the last message came in.

I read it once. And then again. And a third time, filled with panic, when it doesn’t make any sense.

Shane: ​​I’m so sorry, but I’m leaving and I’m not coming back. I wish I could explain or that an apology would be enough, but I know it’s not. I’m sorry.​​

I’m leaving? What does he mean he’s leaving?

There’s another message from him above it, too, so before starting to panic, I read through it to see if I can get some context.

Shane: ​​I’m sorry for the way I was yesterday. I’ll be busy for a little while, and I know you are, too, but we’ll talk when you get done with work later.​​

Wait . . . what?

This doesn’t make any fucking sense at all. He sent one this morning. The other—just now. And it’s like two completely different people sent them.

I type out a response with quick fingers.

Me: ​​I’m confused. What’s going on Shane?​​

Pacing the kitchen and then shutting myself into the office when he doesn’t answer after a full minute, I click on his number to call. It rings steadily in my ear five times before cutting off with a beep without even a chance to leave a voicemail.

I dial again, and again, and again, but after the fourth time being rejected, I fall into my chair and curl into a ball.

Okay. Maybe he’s in the shower. Maybe his phone’s dead.

“No, no,” I say, psyching myself in and out of delusion like it’s a choice between shoes. “He can’t mean he left. It has to mean . . . something else.”

He said we’d talk after work, and then said he was sorry he was leaving. Maybe he just had to go somewhere on an errand. He’ll be back later, surely.

Clicking out of messages and into the Magnolia Connect app, I send a message in the condo group chat, trying my best to sound nonchalant. Begging the most eccentric people on the planet to help me find my boyfriend seems like an exercise I’ll end up regretting. Still, while I’m stuck here at work, they’re the best eyes I have.

Valentina (Unit: 1707): ​​Anyone seen the new guy lately?​​

Jillian (Unit: 510): ​​My husband saw movers this morning. We think he moved out.​​

Stanley (Unit: 1007): ​​His name was off 1807’s mailbox, and his mail was gone when I got my mail this morning.​​

Denny (Unit: 1106): ​​Wow. He didn’t last long. Probably got tired of Rita’s violations and rules.​​

Rita Fortune: ​​I’ll not have any slander happening in this app, Denny. I’ll be by later to give you a warning ticket, and if I find out it was you who clogged the trash chute with that pizza box last week, I’ll be giving you two.​​

Rita Fortune: ​​As for Shane Maddox, he is no longer a resident of Magnolia. His lease ended this morning, and he’s been removed from the MC app.​​

This morning?