Page 73 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

I didn’t know which was worse: being half-announced like something temporary, or not announced at all, like I didn’t exist.

Andi glanced at Andre. “Oh, the straight guy’s now wise?”

“I’m just saying,” he shrugged. “If something’s real, you don’t have to hide it.”

Mel stopped, as though she had a eureka moment. “What if they’re hiding because the other is in a relationship with someone else?”

Plot twist, that was.

Silence settled for half a second.

I didn’t say anything—but I felt it.

“So,” Andi started, setting her cup down. “Speaking of men who don’t like being fully seen…”

She looked at me.

“Your favorite ex is back.”

I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my chair like I was physically exhausted by the topic.

“Why is it always me?” I muttered. “Like, there are five people at this table. Why are we discussing my love life again?”

“Because you’re the most chaotic, darling,” Honey said instantly. Then she leaned forward, eyes lighting up. “Now—spill the tea.”

I sighed.

“He’s been texting me,” I admitted.

Four heads snapped toward me.

“Oh?” Andre said, suddenly interested.

“Constantly,” I added. “Good morning. Good night. Random ‘what are you doing?’ in the middle of the day. Or ‘do you wanna jack off together?’ It’s… a lot.”

Honey gasped. “Oh, he’s pursuing you again.”

“He’s annoying me,” I corrected quickly.

“Same thing,” she said.

I rolled my eyes again, but I could feel it—that tiny, traitorous part of me that didn’t entirely hate Kyle and his motives.

Because the truth was, I liked it.

The persistence.

The attention.

The fact that Kyle was the one trying.

Was I proud of it? No. But it did something to me.

“I keep saying no,” I continued, shrugging like it didn’t matter. “He wants to go out. I keep shutting it down.”

“And yet,” Mel said slowly, narrowing her eyes at me, “you haven’t blocked him.”

I glared at her.