“No fake romance. No kissing. No jealousy performance,” he said. “Your notes were very clear.”
“I teach English,” I replied. “I hate cheap fiction.”
He laughed, and I finally relaxed a little.
“So what is my role?”
“A steady witness,” I said. “Miriam bullied me for years. Then she helped destroy my marriage by feeding my ex the same kind of lies. Now she invited me to watch her stand beside him.”
Norton’s face changed. Not with pity, but with focus.
“That’s cruel.”
“She’s very good at cruel.”
“Do you want me to pretend we’re together?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t want to lie more than necessary. I just want one night where I don’t feel like I have to apologize for existing.”
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