By the third month, Viva had a mental list.

The Good:

· He remembered her students' names, even the ones she complained about.

· He texted her good morning every day without fail.

· He bought her favorite snacks without being asked.

· He listened when she talked about her novel, even though she'd never let him read it.

· He cried during Up and didn't try to hide it.

The Concerning:

· He touched her constantly, even in public, even when she was mid-sentence.

· He pouted or sighed at least 50% of the times she said no to sex.

· He got quiet—not angry, but visibly deflated—when she asked for space.

· He once said "I just want to be inside you" and meant it romantically, which she wasn't sure was romantic.

· He seemed to need physical contact the way other people needed oxygen.

She showed the list to no one. She kept it in her notes app, password protected, like a secret she was afraid to confess.

Am I being used? she wrote at the bottom. Or am I being loved by someone who loves differently?

She didn't know the answer.

So she asked her friends.