NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: Non-apology
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Adya: If he doesn't initiate the apology, you must not accept it. You are a woman, you have your dignity.
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November 15th, 2090, about 11:55 pm MST, Montana City
After the stream, Gordon sat in the quiet, the glow of the heads-up display long faded. The adrenaline from the frenetic fighting was gone, but his pulse still hadn't settled. The occasional drop of sweat still slithered down his temples.
He stared at the call interface for a while before hitting connect.
Marie answered on the second ring, her face appearing in soft evening light—wrapped in a blanket, a mug of something steaming held just under frame. Probably chai.
She didn't speak right away.
"Hey," Gordon said. His voice was low, uncertain. "I... wanted to say I'm sorry."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Still no response. Not yet. Her eyes were conflicted, her brow lowered, her lips a bit pursed.
He pushed forward anyway. "I overreacted. I was too sensitive about it. I don't have that many people I trust, and when it felt like maybe you had a problem with Karen, I just—" He exhaled through his nose. "I didn't want to have to accept that. So I got defensive. But that's not fair to you."
Marie's eyes flicked slightly, watching him.
"I know she's my best friend," Gordon went on, "and that puts me in a dumb position sometimes. But... even if you are jealous—" he winced a little at his own word, "—it doesn't really matter. I'm moving to Mars. She's not coming. If you're not asking me to cut her out of my life, then it's... academic, right?"
He hesitated, then added softly, "I'm still okay to come? You still like me?"
A beat.
Marie's expression softened. She lowered the mug.
"I do still like you," she said. "I don't try to be jealous."
Relief hit him like a slow wave. He nodded once, visibly letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"And yes," she added, "you're still okay to come."
There was a pause—a gentle, almost affectionate quiet.
"Good," he told her. "I hated that. The… distance between us. As corny as that sounds, given the circumstances."
Marie didn't bring up Karen. Not directly. Not again. He hadn't really addressed her concerns, but he had been honest. And maybe that was enough for tonight.