In Over Her Head by Elsie Russell - Parnasse.com

"We can talk here now, but… my hand, the loft, your place, the
phones, all bugged."
He showed her his empty ring finger.
"So, what isn't?" She still hadn't figured out the little knobby
bump under her skin at the back of her neck.
"Hmm, I think, perhaps, the elevator?"
"Oh yeah, that makes a lotta sense."
"You are sarcastic?"
"Well?"
"I thought with all the metal?" He looked vaguely disappointed.
"How is your head?"
"Dr Z's playground? Not gonna do cartwheels down the beach
anytime soon. My short term memory's fried. You hangin' in there?"
"Me? You ask about me?"
"Hey." Penny touched his wrist. He shut his eyes.
"I thought I could protect you. Maybe I still can, but it will take
time." He seemed about to say something more. As their fingers slid
into each other the ache spread up to her chest and tightened around it
and it was the same for him, as his face was shattering.
"O, Penelope." He pulled away, got up and grabbed his coat. "I
have to go now," he croaked, and bolted out.
His beer bottle was all that was left, still half full. She stared at
the grain of the wood, thinking about everything and nothing until it
got dark and the waiter whisked away the flat beer, the tea bag on her
spoon, her empty cup.
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