Page 97 of A Love Like Candle Light

“I'm so sorry, Kylie.”

“I know you are.” I throw my hands in the air. “Which makes this even harder to stomach. I’m glad you’re seeing the light but it’s years too late.”

“Do you still love me?”

My jaw drops. Did he really just ask me that?

“Be honest with me, Kylie. If we hadn't divorced, do you think we could have come back from it?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Divorce was the only endgame. My love for you died about half a year before I asked you for it. I still remember it, clear as day. You returned home at eleven at night, walked right past me without any kind of acknowledgement, didn’t even touch the dinner I left out for you, and fell into bed.”

No ‘Hi honey, so good to see you’ Not even a kiss.

“You left your shoes in the middle of the hallway. Threw your clothes in the corner for me to pick up. On that night I realized, you didn’t even see me as your roommate, but as some kind of household help.”

“I'm sorry,” he mumbles again. “I sound like an inconsiderate prick.”

“Because you are. Were.”

“I don't know what to do.” He shakes his head. “It's scary. They fired me and ever since then I’m completely numb. I didn't know who to call. I didn't know who to tell. I came home to an empty house and I realized I don't even have any hobbies anymore.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Thank you for letting me stay here last night, Ky. I'm going to get out of your hair.”

“Zach.” He freezes in front of my stairs, about to head to the second level to get his stuff. “You deserve better. Just because we didn't work out doesn't mean you're a lost cause, you know. Find a job with work-life balance. Live that work-life balance. Meet people who are not your coworker. Pay Brad and his wife a visit. And maybe one day we'll meet again and reminisce our marriage and can laugh about how dumb we were. But this is not the time yet.”

“Okay,” he mumbles with a nod and bolts upstairs.

I stare at the spot on my shelf where I first placed the picture from our honeymoon. Funny, how quickly things can change. How little it took for me to go from a woman who has to keep fighting for an ounce of attention, to confidence in my new relationship.

Old Kylie wouldn’t have been confident enough to tell Zach her opinion this clearly.

I like new Kylie better.

Two minutes later, he’s trudging back downstairs, wearing jeans and a proper sweatshirt, a bag slung over his shoulder.

“Tell your boyfriend I hope he treats you well.”

We stand in front of each other awkwardly. A part of me wants to give him a hug. Console him. Hold his hand through this transition.

But I don’t.

“I’ll tell him.” I clear my throat, snaking my arms around my middle. “And please, for fuck's sake, Zach, stop talking to my mom.”

“Don't worry.” His face pulls into a grimace and he cringes. “I'm not eager to listen to your mom preach about both of us going to hell.”

“I'm so sorry, Zach. Seriously, block her. Move on with your life.”

He shakes his head, a sad smile playing at his lips. “Be well, Kylie.”

“I will be. You too, Zach.”

I lean against the doorway and watch him slip into his shoes. He shoots me one last look over his shoulder, then walks out of the door. As soon as it clicks shut behind him, I sink to my knees. This was a lot.

Abby is there immediately, puts her paws on my thighs and nudges her nose against my chin. Another warm presence makes itself known at my back. I knew it. Elizabeth is a girls’ girl.

“I know, Abbs,” I mumble and run my hands through her fur. “We don't need him. We're a perfect team as we are.” She nudges my cheek as if to say, ‘Only us?’

“Yeah, Erik is part of the team too, right?” I giggle. Speaking of. My phone buzzed around the time Zach went upstairs. I pull it out of my pocket, heart fluttering when I see Erik’s name in my notifications.

Erik: We got her.