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"You know, you have to give the phone back eventually." Dan says in a wary tone.

"I know. Thanks for the millionth reminder though." I roll my eyes.

The phone pings and we both instinctively reach for it. I clasp my hands around it first though and his hand brushes against mine. I triumphantly pull the phone to my chest and read the message.

"Oh, it's for you." I hand it back, deflated.

"Who's it from?" He asks before taking it from me.

I clear my throat. "Georgina." Just saying her name makes puts me on edge. I still am indignant over her email insults but I push it aside to try to remain within the bounds of professionalism.

Dan scans the phone and places it back down with no further remarks. I'm sort of curious as to what it said. I vow to read it myself next time before handing it over.

The phone pings again and Dan beats me to it. But he hands it back a second later. "Invoice for the dessert caterer."

"Oh, thanks." I say taking it back. After typing a quick reply to Lucinda, I put the phone back down between us.

We both are staring intently at it, willing it to sound. Both intent on getting to it first. This time, I beat him to it I think. I catch his eye and his gaze is steady. I give him a sly grin and then suddenly he's reaching forward. Some distant phone is ringing and he thought it was ours. I laugh aloud, "You don't even know the ringtone. Tragic."

Dan looks a little embarrassed and sinks back into his seat just as the phone beeps again. I reach it just before him and pull it back as his hand brushes mine. I clutch it to my chest triumphantly before lowering it to read the text.

It's from an unknown number, odd. I read the text three times and then swallow hard. My eyes are scanning the screen, again and again, looking for answers. I can't believe what I just read. How do I tell him what this says? The texter seems to still be typing since I see the typing icon on the screen but I've read enough to know the most important fact.

"So who is it?" Dan says expectantly.

"It's for you." I say hesitantly. "I'm really sorry but it was from an unknown number so I read it to see what it said. It had… Contents that were… Personal." I conclude awkwardly.

Dan's brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

"There's no easy way to say this but…" After a pause, I spill the truth. "It said Georgina is cheating on you. I'm really sorry, Dan."

"What?" He sounds incredulous and I feel indignant on his behalf.

"I know! It's unbelievable. How could she cheat on you? You are actually a really great guy and you know what, she doesn't deserve you? She's horrible and she really needs a haircut." I wonder briefly if I've gone too far, Dan isn't saying anything.

"No." Dan is shaking his head now. "This doesn't make any sense."

I reach forward to take his hand in comfort but he stops me.

"You don't understand. It doesn't make sense because she can't be cheating on me."

"I know it's hard to believe Dan but-"

"Blair, she can't be cheating on me because we aren't together. Not in a relationship."

"What?" I barely get the words out. What does he mean they aren't together? My head is spinning in confusion.

"We aren't together." Dan repeats.

"But she's your fiancee." I say at last.

Dan laughs. "No, she's not. Why would you think that?"

"Because you said it! In an email." I rack my brain trying to think of the exact email. "Actually, it was an email Violet sent. It said you were engaged."

"Oh." Dan says and clarity floods his face. "That's what she would send to get rid of people. Women." He clarifies after a moment.

"So you're not engaged? What the fuck?" I can't believe this. "Why would you let me think you're engaged when you're actually not?"

"I didn't know you thought I was and it never came up anyways." He eyes me curiously.

"Who is she anyways?"

"My ex-girlfriend." Dan is still looking intently at me. "Why does this matter? I don't see why you're getting upset over this."

"Because. Because…" I am struggling to find my words. "Because she treats you like your hers." I say at last.

I continue, "She sends you all those ranting emails and you just let her?"

Dan just shrugs.

"Why would you let her do that? It's absurd."

"I don't know. It's inconsequential, I guess."

"Inconsequential? It's not though. She clearly still thinks you two are together in some twisted way. You need to tell her you're not." I think for a moment, "Wait, you don't reply to her emails do you?"

"No, of course not."

That's why I can never see his replies because there are no replies to begin with. The fact that he broke his no-reply rule to stick up for me causes me to a feel a brief flicker of pleasure but I push it aside.

Dan's brow is furrowed and he rubs his hand over his forehead. "I don't have a fiancee, Blair."

"I'm well-fucking-aware of that now, Dan. Thank you." Does he have to keep saying that like I'm stupid? Got the memo, now that's move on.

"I don't have a fiancee," He repeats. "But you do, Blair. I think the text was meant for you."

"I have a fiance, not a fiancee."

"It could have been a typo. We are sharing a phone so it was meant for one of us and it certainly wasn't me which leaves you." Dan says gently.

"That's ridiculous. Marcus isn't cheating on me." I say with finality. But just then, the phone pings. There's another text from the unknown number. I open it up and read:

There's no easy way to tell you this, but you deserve to know. Your fiancee has been unfaithful to you.

I'm so so sorry and I know how soon the wedding is. But I couldn't let you get married without know the facts, Blair.

And there it is. Confirmation the text was meant for me. I blink a few times, trying to process what I've just read. It just doesn't make sense. How could Marcus cheat on me? Especially after only 4 months and with our wedding approaching? I am still in disbelief as the train pulls up to the platform and we stand to exit.

"Are you sure you're still up for this?" Dan says and puts a hand on my bare arm, surrounding it with warmth. "I could have the car take you back now. I'll go with you even if that would help."

I smile, "Really, I'm fine. Let's just have a good time and not talk about it, okay?"

"If that's what you want." He removes his hand from my arm as we set off and I feel the absence of the warmth of his touch.

The fundraising event is being held at a 5-star hotel which is only a brief cab ride from the station. The Archibalds have rented out a whole lower level which has a bar and ballroom where Nate will give his speech and everyone will mingle. We grab head to the bar first and I down my drink and order another before we head in. To his credit, Dan doesn't even bat an eye at this.

"B! You came! I thought for sure you'd try to wriggle out of it." Serena practically ambushes me and gives me a kiss on the cheek. Then she notices Dan, "You brought a friend!"

"Serena, this is Dan. The writer, well I should say editor-at-large actually, who did the piece on Nate." I say gesturing to Dan.

"Oh wow! I forgot Nate said he invited you. Lovely to meet you and thank you for coming." Serena shakes Dan's hand politely. "How do you two know each other? I don't think you ever said, Blair."

We both shift uncomfortably. "It's a rather long story actually…" I grasp at some sort of explanation but come up blank.

Dan speaks up, "We share a mutual connection."

Serena still looks perplexed but nods. Then, an elderly couple approach and she excuses herself.

"A mutual connection?" I say once she's out of earshot.

"The phone, of course."

"Clever," I say through laughter and finish the last of my drink. "Bar?"

Dan nods and we head off. When we return, Nate is finally free to talk and Dan and him start a long conversation which is too dull for me to endure. I go to find Serena and spend over a half hour catching up with her. The longest she's ever spent time with me at one of these events. It must be because of the approaching wedding I think. Once she's declared she really has to go mingle more with potential donors, I go to find Dan. But he's not in the spot where I last saw him. I see Nate though so I quietly ask him if he knows where Dan went and he just shakes his head.

I pull out my phone:

Where are you?

There's no reply so I go to the bar and take a seat. I consider ordering a fourth drink but I am a bit tipsy already so I think better of it. Instead, I pull out the phone and see if there are any new emails. There is one, from Georgina, who else? This latest one though hits a new low.

Dan,

I've said it before and I'll say it again, get your priorities straight. You need to think about the feelings of those close to you in life before you choose to ignore them. Do you treat your family this way? Maybe since your mom left you, you didn't get the chance to learn how important and fleeting close connections are in life. That's the sort of things mothers teach I guess so maybe I should cut you some slack. But really it's time you stopped fucking around with me and set things right once and for all.

Georgina

I blink hard. Dan's mom left him? Why didn't he tell me? I told him about my dad leaving. Maybe I misread… I reread it and know I didn't misread it at all. That's why he was so calm and unaffected by more story of my Dad leaving. Because he's experienced a parent leaving too… I contemplate this for a while and then realize he still hasn't replied.

It's been nearly 10 minutes so I type another text:

If you left me here at this fucking snoozefest alone I will never speak to you again and therefore never return this phone.

I think about his mom leaving which softens me and retype:

Don't tell me you stranded me here.

My phone pings instantly:

I would never strand you.

Just had to take a work call but stumbled into oblivion. No clue where I am.

No clue where you are? How is that possible?

It's pitch black in the woods out here.

The woods? You can't be serious…

I am, unfortunately. Didn't realize how far I strayed from the hotel.

You're ridiculous. I'll come find you. Which doors did you go out?

I stand up and head to the exit Dan said he took. Sure enough, I see it's incredibly dark out and I head into the woods. My heels crunch through leaves and branches and I pray I don't fall into a ditch or sprain my ankle.

Okay I'm in the woods, where are you?

I call out Dan's name but there's no reply. Instead, he texts back.

Heading back towards hotel.

Well, I'm in the woods trying to find you.

Before he's texted back, I start typing something else and press send before I can rethink it.

You never told me your mom left you.

No, I never did.

Another text comes in. I'm still scanning but don't see or hear him nearby.

I should have. I'm sorry.

No, you had no obligation. Don't apologize. Ever. Never apologize.

Is that your rule for life?

Rule for life? I don't think so. Sounds a bit extreme. My rule for life would have to be…

I stop walking and think about it. A text comes in:

I can hardly stand the suspense.

I send him the rolling eye emoji:

I don't think you've ever sent an emoji before. You've only manually typed out a smiley once.

That's because I don't do emojis.

Why not?

I prefer the written word.

Well so do I.

Of course you do, that's why you're a writer, isn't it? I don't see you using emojis either might I add..

True. Never really seen the point I guess. Still waiting to hear your rule for life by the way…

If it's in the trash, it's public property.

Dan texts back: 😊

I smile back even though he can't see and resume walking.

Where ARE you? I'm lost too now.

I'm coming to find you. Look for me.

How can I look for you? It's pitch black in case you hadn't noticed.

Look for the light of my phone.

I really don't know where I am I realize as my head swivels trying to get my bearings. I step on a branch and nearly lose my balance.

New rule for life: Never go into the woods all alone.

You're not all alone.

I feel a glow inside as I read his words. It's true… I don't feel alone at all with him at the other end of the phone. I never have this whole time I've had the phone. Anytime we text it's like I can feel him beside me or hear his voice saying the words or picture his face in that moment. And here in the woods, it's like there's no barrier at all. It's easier to say the things I might not normally say.

I'm really glad it was your phone I found.

I am too.

He's probably just saying that to be polite I think for a moment but then I know that's not true at all. I know he means it so I text:

It's been good sharing this phone. Weird but good.

Couldn't describe it better myself.

You're the professional writer, I'm sure you could.

Fine if I made a tweak it would be this…

His next text comes in:

Weird but good 😊

What's happened to us? Using emojis now?

Not sure. We've converted each other into emoji addicts, I guess.

I guess we are broadening our horizons.

Soon enough we will be sending kissy faces.

I feel a flutter as I read the text. Then, with the boldness instilled by the alcohol and seclusion of the woods I type:😘😘😘

His reply comes instantly:😘😘😘😘😘😘

Now the fluttering in my chest won't stop. It feels like I'm having heart palpitations and I can't stop a smile from spreading across my face. I send another, in disbelief at how very lame I'm being but how very much I don't care: 😘😊😘😊😘😊😘😊😘😊😘😊😘

His reply is an even longer stream of emojis: 😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊😘😘😊😊

Then another one from him comes in:

I see you.

I can hear his footsteps coming from behind me and my heart beats even faster now. I should turn around now and walk towards him. But I don't. I stay firmly planted where I stand and wait for him to call my name. I wait for him to be the one to break the spell of the woods. The place where we can say anything to each other at all. But he doesn't. It's like he can read my thoughts and he doesn't want to break the spell either. Instead, I feel his arms encircle my waist from behind. All I can hear is the sound of his breathing and we both stay silent. Then, he gently turns me to face him. I rest my head on his chest, feeling his warmth against me and his stubble brush against my skin. Occasionally, his fingers make tiny circles on my back and it's like with every touch he's conveying something. I keep my eyes shut, never wanting this magic moment in the woods to end.