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Evan didn’t say anything right away. Just looked at me. All the teasing faded.

He watched me for a beat, then said, “So what now?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s probably nothing.”

“You sure about that?”

I didn’t answer.

He nodded like he already knew. “Man, you never get caught up like this. That’s what’s throwing you. I don’t remember you like this ever, not with Kelly either.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “That’s exactly it.”

We sat there for a minute, both of us watching the street beyond the patio—families walking past, someone in flip-flops carrying a surfboard, headlights pulling into the liquor store lot across the way.

Evan raised his bottle and bumped mine. “To not making it a thing… unless it turns into a thing.”

I laughed under my breath and took a sip.

But even then, I already knew, I’d probably already made it a thing.

CHAPTER 10

IN THE WEEDS

JASON

After I couldn’t make it home for the Christmas concert, I noticed a shift in Natalie. Usually, she just got over things or acted as if they never happened. She hated conflict, avoided fights, and I was the same way. We were never the couple who yelled or slammed doors. We never held grudges, at least I didn’t think we did. But now she seemed irritated, more distant than before.

When my plane touched down I texted her.

Jason: Hey, I just landed. Going to catch an Uber, then I’ll be home. Want to order Thai for dinner?

I knew that was her favorite takeout. She didn’t respond for a while. When she did, it was short and clipped.

Natalie: Sure, that’s fine.

When I got home, the house was empty. I realized she must be picking up the kids. I set my bags down and headed upstairs to shower. The past week was a rollercoaster, but we closed the deal and the company’s future was secure. I planned to tell Natalie the good news tonight.

When the kids got home they were excited to see me, and I scooped them both up in my arms.

Natalie came in from the garage a few moments after them, balancing their backpacks over one shoulder and a coffee in her free hand.

“Need help?” I asked.

“I’m good,” she said.

I walked over anyway and took the coffee and the bags from her.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

No hug, no asking how I was.

That night, we ordered dinner and watched a movie as a family. I must have dozed off because when I woke up, everyone had already gone upstairs. It was nearly midnight.

I went up to bed and found Natalie asleep, a book resting on her chest. She looked peaceful with her hair piled on top of her head. I wanted her. Needed her. Maybe that was part of the problem, I had been absent in more ways than one. I moved the book and leaned in, brushing a slow kiss against her lips. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open just enough to see me.

“Hi,” I whispered.