“Oh.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
I swallowed.
“I just forgot to take the ring off.”
Mason closed his eyes.
Chloe shifted uncomfortably.
I could feel the atmosphere change.
Something inside her had noticed.
Not everything.
Enough.
The rest of the drive was almost silent.
I could hear the turn signal.
The heater.
Chloe’s occasional breathing.
Mason did not speak.
When we reached the Riverside Grand, a valet opened the rear door.
Chloe stepped out carefully.
Mason held her elbow.
Protective.
Gentle.
He did not look at me.
He did not tip.
He did not say goodnight.
He simply followed his pregnant wife into the hotel.
I drove away.
Three blocks later, I pulled into an underground parking garage.
I parked.
Turned off the engine.
Then sat there.
My hands started shaking.
Not a little.
Violently.
I looked at my phone.
Mason’s text was still there.
Working late at the office tonight.
Don’t wait up.
Breakfast tomorrow.
I opened our thread.
Typed.
You lying coward.
Deleted it.
Typed again.
Five years and this is what you do?
