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“Don’t you want to know if you’re really better?”
“According to the doctors, I should be dead by now. But I’m not. I think it’s fair to say I’m better or at least going in the right direction. Maybe it’s borrowed time, but I’ll take it.”
She sighs. Lately, I’ve been the lucky recipient of so many heavy sighs. “I’m going to call Rob. Since he was your refuge, maybe he can convince you to see your doctor.”
“I was with Rob until January. He’s not convincing me of anything. I went to stay with him because I knew he’d let me liveor diein peace.”
She cranes her neck past the doorway to give me a narrow-eyed look before unplugging the curling iron. “Then where were you the rest of the time?”
I mark my page and close the book, setting it on my outstretched legs. “Austin.”
“Texas?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” She adjusts her belt and leans her shoulder against the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom.
Can I phone a friend? Maybe Koen can reassure my wife that my relationship with Scottie is nothing to worry about. I’ve been avoiding this conversation because I don’t know how to explain it in a way that will make sense to my wife, who doesn’t understand how I’m still alive.
“Do you have work to do?”
She nods. “I have a call at ten.”
I glance at the alarm clock.
“That’s not for a half hour,” she adds. “We have time to talk.”
“No. I don’t think thirty minutes is enough time to explain this.”
“Explain what?”
I chuckle. “I’ll explain it later.”
She frowns. “Tell me.”
“Later.” I open my book again.
“Did you have a hot affair?” Her eyebrows lift.
I don’t look at her. That’s my first mistake. No, that’s my second mistake. Telling her I was in Austin when she has a call in thirty minutes was my first mistake.
“Jesus, Price, look at me.”
I do. And I have no idea what my face looks like, but I fear it’s bleeding guilt when I have no reason to feel guilty.
“Whatwere you doing in Austin?” She curls her hair behind her ear, her voice a little shaky.
“Amelia, who makes you feel like you don’t have a care in the world? Do you have someone who inspires you to live in the moment?”
“You.”
I shake my head. “No. That’s not true, not even a little. I’m not asking you who you love. I’m asking if you’ve ever known someone who has anenergyabout them that’s calming. Someone who makes you feel like you’re overthinking life, working too hard, and focused on things that don’t matter in the big picture.”
With a downcast gaze, she squints, lips twisted. “I don’t think so.” Her eyes find mine. “Do you?”
I pause for a second before slowly nodding.
She swallows hard. “Please don’t tell me it’s a woman.”
