Chapter 4

"Did you ever once ask me for my address?"

He typed it, deleted it, typed it again.

"Something at work came up. I'm on my way to get you now."

I looked up at the upscale restaurant.

He was holding an umbrella, walking Marilyn to a cab.

The two of them had their heads bent, saying something I couldn't hear.

Then Marilyn's face suddenly pressed in close to his, like the two of them had kissed.

Vera was quick with her hands and snapped a photo.

Ervin stood frozen where he was for a long time.

"Is this about that post?"

"Marilyn insisted on coming along. I already talked her into leaving."

When I didn't answer, he sent another:

"I saved the cake for you, your favorite chocolate layer. It's all yours. I'm coming to get you, okay?"

But three minutes ago, Marilyn had already sent me a picture of herself taking a bite of that cake.

I hadn't waited for her message. I'd already deleted her.

And now Marilyn was sending me a friend request.

The message read: "Hey, sis~ so sorry! I really didn't know it was your birthday today~ That Dog Ervin says he'll make it up to you next time for sure! There's cake saved for you too, so don't be mad~"

I hit decline.

She sent another: "Come on, don't be like that. Ervin and I are honestly just like brother and sister! If you don't believe me, I'll keep my distance from him from now on, that's all~"

I declined again.

On the third request, the message had changed: "Anna, can't you take a joke?"

The mask had finally slipped.

Vera and I got in a cab.

Through the window, I watched Ervin standing in the curtain of rain.

I sent him everything: the screenshots of my chat with Marilyn, and the photo I'd just taken of the two of them.

"Stop bothering me."

I watched him stand there a long time, forgetting even to raise his umbrella.

Then a flood of messages came, explaining.

I couldn't see any of them.

Block, delete, done, all in one go.

Even his number, wiped clean.

Ervin looked around, searching, until he finally found his way, disheveled, to that trendy restaurant.

I turned my eyes away.

"Vee, you said before you wanted to start a business in the hidden realm?"

Vera's eyes lit up. "You've decided to come with me?"

I nodded and closed my eyes. "Book the flights. The sooner the better."

I'd been ready days ago.

My suitcase was already at the hotel.

The night the party game ended, I'd gone back alone to that empty room.

I'd gathered up every one of my personal things, cleared them all out.

Ervin probably never noticed any of it.

He came home late, and he was always with Marilyn.

Marilyn's friend request came through again.

"Ervin got in a car accident trying to find you! You're over there playing dead. How are you good enough for him?"

Vera saw it, and a nameless anger flared. "That Dog Ervin this, That Dog Ervin that."

She accepted the request and sent back a voice message.

"Good enough? You're the perfect match! A bitch and a dog, together forever!"

After that little tirade, she powered off the phone and stuffed it into my bag.

"Let's go, we've got a flight to catch."

I looked back once.

I'd come to this city for Ervin.

I would never come back again.