Check messages

Ethan pulls out his phone. Sure enough, an unread message waits for him.

H: I’m sorry about your Grandma. I didn’t get a chance to say anything when we last spoke. I can only imagine how much you are hurting.

Ethan sighs, taking a seat on the couch as he reads the message. He tries out a few different replies before settling on one.

E: I’m ok.

He slumps back slightly, casting out the lie harder than expected. When his phone buzzes in his hand, he looks at it with a raised brow. He didn't expect a quick response.

H: The dots say otherwise.

E: ???

H: I saw you typing that for a while.

E: Waiting for my text?

H: Kinda.

Ethan smirks, but isn’t really sure why.

E: Whys that?

H: Cause I said I wanted to talk.

E: Okay, I’m listening.

E: Er, reading.

The dots start and continue for some time.

H: I need you to know I’m sorry about what happened. I made a mistake and I’m ready to own it. I NEVER meant to hurt you, and I can’t forgive myself that I did.

E: So you want forgiveness from me instead?

H: I don’t expect it.

E: But you want it?

A long pause.

H: I do.

E: I don’t know if I can do that right now.

H: I understand.

E: You were a real bitch to me.

E: When we fought I mean.

H: I was angry.

E: That supposed to be an apology??

H: Was that?

E: The fuck?

E: I thought you wanted forgiveness?

E: Why do I need to apologize?

H: Fuck, can you just send one message. I can’t respond when you spam.

H: I want forgiveness for fucking up, not for defending myself.

E: Defending a fuck up is okay?

H: I didnt defend my duck up.

H: Fuck*

E: So when you said it wasnt a big deal what was that?

H: I was angry I wasnt thinking. You were yelling and I was just reacting.

E: So being angry makes it okay?

H: You were angry to.

E: I had a reason to be. You fucking got me fired.

E: I worked hard for that fucking job.

E: I barely graduated working to get it and you fucked up my dream job.

E: Now Im living in the middle of fucking nowhere because I have no job and no fucking clue what im supposed to do.

E: And sorry for fucking spamming, but im angry so that makes it ok right?

Ethan almost tosses his phone, but holds back. Breaking it would just put him further in the hole. Heather stays silent. No dots either. Ethan waits and waits, but no response.

A small, but not insignificant part of him, feels a twinge of guilt.

Heather ruined his career. That much is true. What was supposed to be a sneaky and sexy gift turned into a disaster, when she, secretly, tried to make a sex tape that ended up a live call to half of his co-workers.

Heather didn’t know what Discord was.

Being secretly recorded while having sex was bad, but the recording would have been an appreciated gift. They had joked, then talked, about making a sex tape before, so Heather didn't pull the idea from thin air.

Still, it wasn't great. Then there was the accidental call. She tried to set it up on Ethan’s computer, but didn't know her way around his apps and programs.

The cherry on top was the video wasn't saved, so Ethan didn't even get to see it.

Sighing. Ethan looks back down at his phone. Still nothing.