Laughter. Shouts. Words tumbling over each other. Another swallow of whiskey. The glass clinked in the solitary toast of someone who would rather sink than face the truth.

Celina snapped the video off with a sharp click. Her heart pounded like a drum out of rhythm inside her chest. She dropped the phone onto the couch and stood up abruptly.

“Celi?” Gabriel called again, moving toward her.

But she didn’t answer. She walked straight down the hall, her steps hard against the wooden floor, disappearing into her bedroom.

Gabriel stood there, confused, dish towel still in hand. He looked at the abandoned phone, saw the frozen frame of Thor raising his glass, and understood. He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and went back to the kitchen without a word.

Inside the room, Celina sat on the bed and then let herself fall back as if everything inside her had collapsed at once. The white ceiling seemed to spin. A single tear ran hot down her cold temple.

She felt ridiculous.

Ridiculous for