Page 22 of The Exception to the Rule

Goddamnit.

From: t.sol18@email.com

To: c.sun16@email.com

Date: February 14, 2023

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lol i know. TEN Valentine’s Days, though. Ten!! It’s so cool that we’ve done this since we were 14 and 16 years old. Happy Valentine’s Day, C. Maybe next year we’ll meet. Even if it isn’t romantic, it will be so good to see you in person someday.

xo

T.

Chapter Eleven

FEBRUARY14, 2024

From: t.sol18@email.com

To: c.sun16@email.com

Date: February 14, 2024

Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, FAVORITE

From: c.sun16@email.com

To: t.sol18@email.com

Date: February 14, 2024

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hey! Happy Valentine’s Day. What are you up to?

From: t.sol18@email.com

To: c.sun16@email.com

Date: February 14, 2024

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

My roommate and friend are dragging me to a party. I broke up with the bf a couple weeks ago, and there’s a non-Valentine’s thing at the house of a friend of a friend or something—honestly, I don’t even know. I’m just preemptively annoyed because I’m sure there won’t be soup dumplings there.

From: c.sun16@email.com

To: t.sol18@email.com

Date: February 14, 2024

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Oh, wow, I’m sorry about the bf. I hope you’re okay.

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