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And if I’m smart, I should leave.
He can’t keep me here.
What is Jake going to do? Tie me to the bed?
I almost laugh at myself.
The sick fucker would enjoy it.
But I could leave. I could stand right now and march out the door.
Why don’t I?
Because I can’t.
Jake is right. I’m a romantic, and I’ve become really good at pretending.
I love staring risk in the face and laughing.
This time, I’m risking everything.
“Rob seems to be one of those slippery bastards. He gets through the cracks. But he’s been silent since the day with the bunny. Not a word. I’ve tried convincing Jake that he’s probably gone. If he knows she won’t go back, then maybe he’s given up. He won’t hear a word of it.”
“He knows this guy better, though, right?”
I hum, biting the inside of my cheek to distract myself.
“You’re safe here. That’s all that matters.”
Gulping the wine, I try to hide the heat rushing up my neck.
My heart is in more danger inside this house than it ever was outside.
She studies the photographs, smiling like I did when I first saw them. “He’s such a sweet kid.”
“How’s our girl’s crush?”
Rolling her eyes, she shrugs. “Growing every day. She thinks she’s sixteen. Alex is convinced her only purpose in life is to give him high blood pressure.”
I laugh into my glass. “That’s what daughters are for.”
Her eyes cast down, lost in her thoughts for a moment. “She’s asking about Nick a little more lately, so I’m glad she has a friend she can relate to in that way. It might not make sense to them now, but when they’re older—hopefully, they’ll understand each other, and the loss they share.”
It’s cruel that they have to understand it at all.
“Have you been to see him lately?” she asks.
“Nick?”
She nods, still staring at the photos.
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “He’s still not talking to me.”
She almost spits out her wine.
Sobering, there’s silence between us for a moment. “His wife was beautiful, wasn’t she?”
I purse my lips because Mandy makes me feel like I’m in a confession booth. I never keep anything from my friends, but I’ve kept this.
