I stood at her, mouth agape, for a moment, before I closed my mouth. "Well. Hello to you too," I said again.

It hurt to hear that, there was no denying that. But I'd be lying if I said I was surprised by this. After all, hadn't Valkyrie told me flat out at the start of... whatever this was... that she wasn't ready for a serious relationship? I wouldn't have said 'I love you' if I hadn't thought I was about to die.

I looked away a moment, thinking over my next words. Then I said, "So... tell me something. Are we... still friends?"