With that, she slips on her headphones, taps her phone, and continues reading—like I hadn’t even interrupted. And just like that, I’m left speechless. It’s the first time anyone has essentially told me to shut up—though not in so many words.

I stand and head toward the bathroom to grab my things. But then, just as I reach for them, what she says next makes me close my eyes and curse myself—for being so damn careless.

“And if you knew me a little better,” she says, “you’d ...