Page 26 of The Dixon Rule

“Good. Because I feel shitty enough as it is. I’m so angry, Di. He totally used me. And, like, he was so blatant about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, I get that he only wanted a hookup, but he didn’t have to be so rude about it. He was basically, like, I never want to see you again, best of luck.”

A crease digs into my forehead. I might find Shane annoying, but I can’t imagine him being so disrespectful toward a woman.

“What, you don’t believe me?” When Crystal notices my dubious face, her own darkens.

“No, I do. I’m just surprised. I don’t think he behaved that way with Audrey.”

Audrey is our teammate from Briar, the one who hooked up with Shane last fall and then sprained her ankle. Yes, she was upset he broke it off, but she didn’t say a word about Shane doing it in a malicious way.

“Well, maybe he’s become more of a dick since Audrey.” Crystal’s fingers travel over her screen for a moment. “Like, look at this. This is what he sent yesterday.”

She hands me the phone, and I wince when I read Shane’s text.

SHANE:

I’m not interested in seeing you again. Best of luck.

“That’s what he sent the day after you had sex?” I say in disbelief.

“Yup.”

“Wow. That is beyond rude.” Because I’m nosy, I try to scroll up to see the rest of the thread. But this is the only message on it. “You guys never texted before this?”

“Only on Insta.”

I reread the message. I can’t imagine sleeping with someone and then receiving this the next morning. Brutal.

“I honestly don’t blame you for being upset.” I give the phone back. “Do you want me to yell at him when I get home?”

“Please do. He deserves it.”

He sure does.

On the bus ride home later, I’m still thinking about the way Shane shot Crystal down. Best of luck. I’m surprised she didn’t completely unload on him after that message. If any guy ever treated me this way, I’d lose my shit. But I also have a temper, and confrontation doesn’t faze me. Maybe it fazes Crystal.

When I enter the lobby of the Sycamore, I smile in greeting at Harry, who works the day shift. He doesn’t smile back. Harry is notoriously grumpy and hates everyone, so I don’t take it personally.

I head for the shiny silver grid of condominium mailboxes, pleasantly surprised to find Priya in the vestibule, flipping through a pile of envelopes.

“Hey,” I say as I stick my key in the mailbox lock. “Why aren’t you working?” She usually sees clients until six, and it’s only four.

“I took the afternoon off. Lucy had a vet appointment.”

“Oh no, is she okay?”

“Annual shots. Nothing to worry about. You just missed our neighbor.”

“Niall?”

“No. 2B. The hockey player. I heard him tell Harry he’s heading out of town to see his parents for a few days.”

“Good riddance,” I mutter.

Her eyes narrow. “Do we not like him?”

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