Work is the last place I need to be right now, but it’s where I am. When I turned up this morning I kinda hoped that the dull routine and formulaic segments would numb the turmoil and shock inside, but they don’t. My nerves are brittle, my patience shorter than a grenade pin, and I keep having to take bathroom breaks where I breathe deep in order to get through the next hour-long chunk of time. I end up working through lunch, gritting my teeth through Carlos’ request for his ‘lucky’ red shirt, and order a double-helping of tacos to the office.

Jenny steps inside as I’m wiping up my crumbs, and it’s the first bright spot in my day. So much so that I want to clutch at her like a life raft. I smile, but when I see her miserable expression my heart sinks again.

“Just in time,” I say, pushing the leftover tacos across my desk. “You hungry? They’re still hot.”

Jenny steps to the desk, all slumped shoulders and downturned lips, then drops herself in the chair as if her strings have been cut.

“I didn’t pass the audition.”

“Oh, Jenny,” I say, getting up to move around and hug her in the chair.

“They said I gave off too much of an ‘intellectual’ vibe. Said they wanted something a little more fun and smiley. Probably just wanted a girl who showed more skin.”

“Intellectual is great,” I say meekly, grasping.

Jenny rolls her eyes at me and then spots the chips and guac, digging in and holding the chip in front of her mouth.

“They’re casting agents—they’re good at letting you down gently,” she says, then crunches mercilessly on the guacamole-laden tortilla chip.

“It’s just one audition,” I say. “It always takes a little time.”

“No,” Jenny says, pausing to swallow. “They’re right. Look at me. Unless there’s a shortage of ‘hipster schoolteacher’ roles, I’m not getting anything anytime soon. That’s what spending half your life in the writers’ room gets you.”

“Bullshit,” I say adamantly, lowering my face to catch her eye. “You look like—and are—a creative, witty, charismatic woman. And there aren’t so many casting agents you can see before you find one with half a brain to appreciate what you’ve got.”

Jenny chomps on another handful of chips and then allows herself the tiniest of smiles.

“Thanks,” she says. “You mind recording that so I can play it back to myself later?”

I shove her playfully and go back around to my side of the desk.

“How are things with you?” Jenny asks, the taco box in her lap now. “I saw you stomping around in the studio earlier looking like you were going to murder someone. Carlos winding you up again?”

I nod slowly, then sigh.

“Part Carlos, part finding out my boyfriend is a psycho.”

Jenny stops mid-bite, frozen with the steak taco halfway in her mouth to glare at me over it. I decide to tell her the details rather than have her mess up that knitted shawl.

“I took him to a barbecue at my sister’s place. Kind of fancy, and he didn’t want to go. My dad was there, and he wanted to talk to Teo, so they went back into the study—you know, a little ‘boys’ time.’ After a while I went to go get him, but when I get there…God, Jenny. Teo was standing there in my father’s face, grabbing his shirt, fist pulled back like he’s about to punch him. I’ve never seen him like that before.”

Jenny struggles to drop her jaw and not spill food at the same time. She hurriedly swallows and wipes her mouth before setting the taco down—more interested in asking questions than a second bite now.

“What the hell?”

“Yep.”

“What happened? Why would he do that?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. My dad said he was asking Teo some questions about his business, and Teo flipped the fuck out.”

Jenny exhales and scrunches her face incredulously.

“You believe him? I mean, you think he told you the whole story?”

“My dad?” I say, looking at Jenny with shock for asking. “Of course I believe him. I know what I saw. And yeah, I mean, he can be a little pushy sometimes, and maybe he said something shitty, but even so—who the hell does that? Assault the parent of a girl you’re dating as soon as you meet them? It’s just insane. I can’t even process it. There’s no excuse.”

Jenny gives me a pained expression, and I know she can barely think of what to say.

“I’m sorry, Ash.”

“Yeah,” I sigh. “Me too.”

“I guess it’s over then.”

I nod.

“Absolutely. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if Teo doesn’t think so.”

When I finish work, Teo proves me right. He’s waiting for me outside in the parking lot. I step through the exit, see him, and immediately harden my expression, redirect myself toward my car and around him.

“Ash! Wait, please,” he says, jogging up beside me, but smartly keeping a little distance between us.

“If I wanted to talk to you I would have answered one of the many phone calls, or responded to one of the many, many texts.” I glance at him across my shoulder, if only to emphasize my point with the firmness of my eyes. “I don’t want to talk.”

“I understand,” he says, backing up to stay a little in front of me, in my field of vision, “but if you’d just let me explain—”

“There’s nothing to explain,” I say, stopping suddenly to direct the full force of my frustration at him. “Raising a fist to my father? What was that? Some kind of ‘macho alpha male’ crap? I don’t even want to hear it. Some things are beyond excuses, Teo. I’m done.”

I start walking again, and he continues trying to stay in my field of view.

“Your father isn’t everything he seems, Ash. If we could just sit down somewhere, if you could give me five minutes—”

I stop again to glare at him.

“Are you seriously trying to blame this on my father?”

“He threatened my business! And us. He threatened to cut you off if—”

“My father isn’t perfect,” I interrupt. “Yes, he’s overprotective. Yes he can be a little too controlling at times. And yes he’s a little hard on my boyfriends. But none of those things—I repeat, none—justify being physically assaulted like that in his own home!”

I continue walking, even faster this time. I click my car lock paces away.

“I know it was stupid of me, and I’m sorry, Ash,” Teo pleads. “I lost my shit, let my temper get the best of me, and I shouldn’t have. But he was trying to come between us, he always was—”

“Bullshit,” I say, as I yank my door open. “Actions speak louder than words, Teo. And the truth is that every time I think I actually know you, every time I think we have something steady together, you go ahead and do the one thing I thought you never could. Disappearing overnight without a word, refusing to show up for me the way I show up for you, and then threatening my family—”

“I love you, Ash,” he interrupts.

For a moment I just stare at him, and then I shake my head. “I know you do. But this isn’t gonna work, Teo. Nothing you can do, or say, will fix this.”

I slide into the driver’s seat and close the door just as he calls my name one more time, a desperate plea drowned out by the slam.

I don’t look back as I drive away. I don’t need to. I’ve got enough practice seeing him for what I think is the last time.