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“No, you shouldn’t. I don’t wanna go either. Screw ’em, they can make it a boys’ trip.”

I looked at her gratefully.

“We should just find a day spa or something and go do that. A bed-and-breakfast. Gabby will go where we do. She always does.”

I smiled. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“Don’t thank me. God, what a dick.”

She squinted at the houses ahead of her and stopped walking. “Why are the police in your driveway?”

I froze. We were a few houses down from mine. She was right, there was a cop car in front of my garage.

They were there with Neil.

“What’s going on?” Jessica asked as we approached the two men.

Neil turned and gave me the practiced look of contrition he gave the families of his patients when they didn’t make it out of his operating room. “Ali, let’s go have a private conversation.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, crossing my arms. “If you wanted your stuff, you should have just texted me.”

“I’m moving back in.”

The words hit me like a freight train.

“What?”

“I have a legal right to be here. I’m on the deed, and I’m a resident of the property.”

“You moved out!”

“We had a disagreement,” he said to the officer, not to me. “I stayed with my son for a few weeks. I continue to get my mail here, and the utilities are under my name. She doesn’t have a restraining order.” He was handing him documents. “We co-own the property. I live here.”

I stared slack-jawed between them. The officer thumbed through the paperwork. Then he looked up at me. “If he’s a legal resident of the property, I can’t ask him to leave.”

“You’re kidding me…” I breathed.

Jessica crossed her arms. “Neil, you can’t be serious.”

“Jessica, this is my house, and Alexis is the woman I love. I’m not walking away from either of them.”

“Don’t you dare pretend this is about me,” I spat, feeling my face grow hot. “You’re not living here.”

He looked back at the officer. “I’m going inside now. Is there anything else you need from me?”

He shook his head. “No. Have a good night.”

Neil turned and walked into the garage. I’d changed the locks, but I’d left the garage code the same so he could get his stuff. I didn’t lock the inside door, since I was just on a short jog, so Neil walked right into the living room.

Jessica looked at me in shock.

“Ask Marcus if this is legal,” I said, my voice shaking.

I turned and ran inside after Neil. He was carrying one of the clear plastic containers that I’d packed his stuff in, heading down to the basement where we have our biggest guest room.

“Neil!”

He ignored me.