Chapter 12 : Conflict of Interest

*Jane*

One week in and things are already so much harder than I thought they’d be.

When Noah first told me about the trip, I thought that the initial sweep of heartache I felt would disappear soon enough. I mean, yeah, I love him. But that didn’t mean that I had to devolve into the typical, corny, sad not-quite girlfriend mooning over the guy while he’s away.

But as time wore on, I found myself constantly distracted by thinking about Noah.

He kept his word—he texts me every day. We even Facetime whenever he’s free to do so, but things just aren’t the same. I can’t put my finger on what exactly shifted, but the difference between being together in person and communicating over a screen is noticeable.

It’s not that things are ever really super awkward between us. We still have banter. But there’s the strain I can see these games and practices are having on him that he refuses to address. It shows on his face, the sleepless nights that have caused the skin under his eye