Collin Tanner
The dining room felt dead quiet. The hum of the central heating through the vents sounded like static in my ears, and my fingers went numb against the smooth linen napkins I had been gathering.
I think that someone was you.
I forced my hands to keep moving. I stacked the fabric squares with mechanical precision, staring at the polished mahogany table so Vanessa wouldn't see the panic blooming in my eyes.
"You're mistaken," I said, my voice coming out tighter than I wanted. "Zander and I... that was a long time ago. It was a college thing. It was nothing like whatever you two had."
"Oh, please, Collin," Vanessa scoffed softly. She didn't sound angry or bitter; she just sounded deeply, profoundly tired. She leaned back against the sideboard, running a manicured finger arou
