[358: Memory Brushes.]
“My husband keeps me up to date on all the gossip,” says Mallorie, “so I know exactly what’s happening with Dio.”
Stephen raises an eyebrow.
“She’s, you know, expecting. You did know about that? Robbie’s thrilled to death. But I didn’t want to talk about Dio. How’s Saffi? How are you?”
The young man shrugs, looks away. “Saffi? Found himself a real boyfriend, of course.” (The phrase ‘it was only a matter of time’ goes unsaid.)
She looks confused. “I thought you two were…?”
“No,” he interrupts, a bit more strongly than intended. “Just friends.”
This ushers in an awkward silence.
Stephen raises an eyebrow.
“She’s, you know, expecting. You did know about that? Robbie’s thrilled to death. But I didn’t want to talk about Dio. How’s Saffi? How are you?”
The young man shrugs, looks away. “Saffi? Found himself a real boyfriend, of course.” (The phrase ‘it was only a matter of time’ goes unsaid.)
She looks confused. “I thought you two were…?”
“No,” he interrupts, a bit more strongly than intended. “Just friends.”
This ushers in an awkward silence.