I thought of Cassie carrying her plate into the kitchen. The way she had said, Apparently not always, when I pointed out that she normally finished lunch. The way her smile had looked when she said goodbye.
I had been so busy defending the friendship that I had not considered whether I was hurting the friend.
“I wasn’t embarrassed by her,” I said.
“I know.”
“Anthony thinks she might believe I am.”
Marco stayed silent.
That silence bothered me.
“You don’t think that.”
He looked at me.
“I think every time someone calls her your girlfriend, you correct them like you’re worried the rumor might stick.”
“Because I don’t want people thinking I’m in a relationship.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not.”
“That’s circular logic.”
“It’s factual logic.”
Marco smiled slightly. “You sound like Cassie
