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see how much Annie loved him. Anyone could see it. Jen glanced at Zack, who was still enthralled with something on the menu. He clearly wasn’t even trying to listen.
    Jen tried to keep up the conversation through dinner. Annie and Adam were as nice as ever, but Zack hardly said a word. He spoke only when spoken too and even then kept his sentences short and to the point. Annie gave Jen several worried looks but she ignored them. On the outside she was smiling and laughing as if everything was fine. On the inside she was screaming mad at Zack.
    “I have to run to the girl’s room,” Annie announced when dinner was done.
    “Alright babe,” Adam said smiling. Annie stood and looked at Jen, waiting.
    Jen looked at her, a little confused.
    “Do you need to go?” Annie asked sweetly.
    Jen took the hint. “Sure.” She got up and followed her to the restroom.
    Annie didn’t even wait until the door was closed before she turned to Jen, concern showing on her face. “What’s going on?” Her voice was urgent.
    “Nothing, everything’s fine.” Jen waved her hand.
    “Jen, I haven’t seen Zack like this since…” She stopped and bit her lip. “For a long time!”
    Jen knew what Annie was going to say; Zack hadn’t been this depressed since their mother had died. “He’s really tired. He works all the time.”
    “Is everything okay between the two of you?”
    Jen knew Annie meant well but it still annoyed her that she would pry into their private life. “We’re fine, Annie. He’s tired, I’m tired. It’s the life of the busy and hard working.”
    Annie didn’t look convinced but obviously decided to let it go. “Alright, but you guys should really take some time off. Even if you just stay home and sleep.”
    “That’s a good idea, maybe we can soon.”
    “You know I love the both of you very much. I’m just worried about you guys.”
    “We’re fine,” Jen said a little more sternly. “I promise.”
    “You promise you’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do?”
    “Yes, of course. The minute I feel the need, I’ll unload all of my problems on you.” She smiled teasingly. “You might rethink wanting to hear it all by then.”
    “No way! Jen, you’re like family to me. I’m here for you, whatever you need.” She touched her arm.
    Jen smiled as she fought back tears. “Thanks,” she managed to say.
    Annie nodded and the two of them made their way back to the table.
    They split the check and said goodnight. Jen waited until she and Zack were in their apartment before she spoke.
    “What the hell was that?” she asked, a little more loudly than she’d intended.
    He looked at her. “What?”
    “If you didn’t want to go to dinner tonight, you shouldn’t have. No one was forcing you.”
    “Forgive me for not feeling up to pretending like everything is alright. I’m not as okay with being fake as you are.”
    “Excuse me?” Jen said slowly.
    “You heard me, all night tonight you laughed and joked as if the world was nothing but sunshine and roses.”
    “You don’t think I’m upset with how our relationship has been the last few weeks?” Jen was stunned.
    “You sure don’t act like it.”
    “It’s not my fault I’ve been busy. And in case you didn’t know, I deal with things differently than you do. And don’t try and act like it’s my fault that our relationship has gotten to this point because I have tried and tried to talk to you about it and all you do is walk away!”
    “There is no point in hashing and rehashing the same things over and over. You know how I feel, you know where I stand. If you have something new to say, I would love to hear it.” Zack had started pacing by now.
    “You think that your opinion is the only one that matters. You think that your happiness is the only one at stake here but I have feelings and beliefs and wants too! I’m just way better at holding myself together than you are. My emotions aren’t plastered all over my face for the