The pub was loud, crowded, and perfect. People laughed, argued about research, complained about professors. I grabbed a beer and sat with Chloe and some students from other schools.
Silver sat across from me, joking and debating. Every now and then he caught my eye and smiled. It felt easy. Normal.
At 9:20, my phone buzzed on the table. A text from Aaron.
Aaron: Board dinner ending early. What are you doing now?
The air shifted. I typed back, my fingers clumsy.
Cameron: At the pub with the group. All good.
The three dots appeared immediately, then stopped. No reply.
"Everything okay?" Silver asked.
"Yeah. Just… my brother checking in." I lied, another tiny betrayal.
"Tell him you're a grown-up at a pub," Silver said, rolling his eyes playfully. "Have another drink."
But the mood was gone. I kept checking my phone. No more texts. The silence was worse. At 9:40, I stood up. "I should head out." I said to the table.
