Page 127 of Shadowing You

“I shouldn’t be angry? You lied to me.”

“I didn’t⁠—”

“And you lied to her. You haven’t told her anything. She thinks she’s comforting a man whose wife is dead. She’s praying for you, and she’s sending you scriptures.”

“So now you’re upset about how I’m treating Holly? Anything else you’d like to add to the list?”

“You lied to both of us.”

Ethan sensed Gavin one row up. Even if he didn’t want to listen, there was no way he didn’t hear every word she said.

“I didn’t lie to either of you. I told her I had a family emergency.” He waved his hand at her, at himself, at this whole crazy situation. “I think this qualifies.”

She turned in the seat to face him fully. “At the hotel, I asked you if there was another woman.”

She hadn’t asked him, though. She’d confessed that she was worried there was another woman.

He figured this wasn’t the time to point out the discrepancy. “I told you the truth, that you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

“You avoided the question because you didn’t want to tell me the truth. To me, that is a lie.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

The sound that came out of her mouth was close to a laugh, except there was no happiness in it. “You wanted us both on the hook until you decided which one of us to keep.”

“You’re being ridiculous. That’s not⁠—”

“Ridiculous, am I? I bet Holly is never ridiculous. That’s a point against me.”

“I’m not keeping score. There is no decision for me to make.” He leaned closer, his voice low but still betraying his anger. “You’re my wife.”

“I’m your obligation.”

“Yes. And⁠—”

“That is not the kind of marriage I want.”

She unbuckled and started to stand.

He grabbed her wrist, gently. “Calm down and let’s⁠—”

“No.” She yanked away.

He glanced toward Gavin, hating that his father was hearing this. “Please. Mei Lin. You’re being irrational.”

Her expression shifted from angry to something much worse. Resignation, as if he’d just helped her reach a decision—a terrible decision.

“I’ll go and be irrational by myself.”

She scooted past him and walked to the rear of the cabin.

Ethan stared at the back of the seat in front of him. What just happened?

In the row ahead of Ethan, Gavin twisted to face him. “There are two things you never say to a woman. One is ‘Calm down.’ The other is, ‘You’re being irrational.’”

“She was being irrational.”

Gavin shook his head. “Have you ever actually met a woman?”