There was a soft chuckle on the other end of the line, though it sounded a little strained. “Kinda,” Mark admitted, though there was an undertone of something more—something deeper. “But, you know, it’s not just about the news. I’ve been meaning to call you anyway.” Amelia let out a small laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She knew Mark well enough to see through that. He had always been good at deflecting, at pretending things didn’t bother him when they clearly did. “Come on, Mark,” she teased gently, her voice soft. “We both know why you’re calling. You don’t really have to say it.” There was another pause, this one longer than the last. She could almost picture him on the other end, running a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. “Okay, fine,” he finally said, his voice quieter now. “Yes, the news kind of surprised me. But I called because… well, I just wanted to tell you I’m really happy for you, Amelia.” Those words, simple as they were, touched so
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