Page 45 of The Snowball Effect

It turned out – annoyingly – that was an incorrect assumption.

And Emma hated being incorrect.

How was it that Emma had moved into an apartment with three total strangers that she barely spoke to for years, and it was a less awkward living situation than what she was currently experiencing?How?

Really, she wanted the universe to answer her.

Because, quite frankly, it wasn’t fair.

That was the conclusion Emma had reached over the last few days as she’d cycled through her feelings.

It wasn’t fair that she’d voiced her honest opinion about Regan – literally citing wrongdoings Regan had committedagainst her – only forherto end up feeling this gnawing sense of guilt afterward. Only to end up with every interaction filled with loud, unnatural silences.

Emma hadn’t done anything wrong!

And yet, she was left feeling like she’d kicked a puppy. Unsure and careful in the aftermath.

This gnawing, shameful feeling had only gotten worse in the last few days.

Especially because she’d given in and opened thesurpriseRegan had tossed to her. Inside had been two small, delicate, beautifully ornate painted hummingbird figurines, carefully packaged in bubble wrap. Along with a note that Regan had clearly slid into the packaging after they’d been delivered –

I know these aren’t the same ones I accidentally broke when you moved in, but they were the cutest ones I could find for a replacement. They’re from a little shop in Alaska, isn’t that cool! They custom-make every order, which is why these took a little while to come in.

I’ve decided to name them Thomasina (Thom) and Geri – the female Tom and Jerry, if you will. I think they’re very representative of you and me.

(obviously, you’re Tom)

Your favorite roommate, even though you can’t admit it (yet),

Regan

And, fine. Regan replacing the hummingbirds that she broke was… sweet. Unsurprisingly sweet. But – she was only replacing them because she broke them in the first place!

She’d tried to thank Regan two days ago, only to be given a dismissive smile in response.

Everything about this situation was ridiculous and annoying, and, most bizarrely of all, it was starting to distract her at work.

Every time her phone buzzed and alerted her to a text message, as it just had, Emma felt compelled to check it right away.

Was it Regan? Was she going to be the one to break? Was shefinallygoing to give Emma back some semblance of normalcy and ask if Emma wanted to do pedicures or have a movie night or something?

But Emma didn’t evenwantto do those things! So, why was she anticipating the texts?

It was starting to make her feel crazy. Absolutely, entirely out of her mind.

Because, as Regan had promised, she was giving Emma exactly what she’d asked for multiple times. She was acting as a roommate and nothing more.

Her phone buzzed again in her desk drawer, and Emma – who had been diligently reading through the portfolios for the Alton Fellowship, because she only had a couple of weeks to weed through literal thousands of applicants – couldn’t help how her hand twitched to check it.

Even though she resolutely never checked her personal texts when she was busy at work. Never.

“Oh mygod, just answer it. Please,” Brynn’s exasperated encouragement reached Emma from a few feet away, where she sat at her own desk. “Please, answer it.”

Emma felt herself blush – annoying – and she cleared her throat. “What?”

Brynn rolled her eyes but kept her voice hushed as they were both aware of Allegra’s open office door. “Your phone.”

“How can you hear it? It’s on silent.” Emma could barely hear when it vibrated, and she was right next to it.

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