Vanessa had turned her back on Mark in the driveway before the cruiser even pulled out.

Lauren’s cracked screen lit up on the arm of her chair.

She turned it face down without looking at the name.

“Don’t you need to get that?”

“Not tonight,” she said, and put her feet up on the rail.

We stayed out until the tea went cold and the light in the trees turned from red to gray.

Then she carried the cups in, and I walked her to her car, and she backed out slowly, the way you do when you’re tired.

After her taillights went around the corner, I made the rounds.