Chapter 2
After we left the hospital, Ethan glanced at me several times.
I leaned against the window and didn’t say a word.
He turned up the heat, then reached over and touched the back of my hand.
“Your hands are freezing. Did making porridge wear you out?”
I pulled away.
His hand rested beside the gearshift for a moment before he returned it to the wheel.
“Let’s not go home yet. I’ll take you to dinner.”
“Okay.”
“Italian or Japanese? There’s also a new upscale place that just opened.”
“Whatever.”
Ethan’s patience wore thinner by the second. He tapped the steering wheel twice.
“You always say ‘whatever.’ Then if I pick the wrong thing, you don’t like it. How am I supposed to guess?”
I watched the streets of Denver pass by and spoke before I could stop myself.
“Take me wherever you take the other women.”
The tires screeched as he slammed on the brakes.
I hadn’t buckled my seat belt tightly enough. My forehead hit the glove compartment, and my vision went dark for a moment.
Ethan’s expression changed. He unbuckled and cupped my face.
“Where did you hit? Let me see.”
His thumb brushed the red mark on my forehead. His breathing turned uneven.
I turned my head away.
He stared at his empty hand. The concern on his face slowly gave way to anger.
“Nora, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m not cheating.”
The horns behind us grew louder.
He pressed the gas again, his chest rising and falling.
“When are you going to believe me?”
I turned back to the window.
Tears slid down the bridge of my nose before I could stop them.
Ethan didn’t notice.
He pulled into the mall parking garage and softened his voice again.
“There’s a good Italian place here. The soup is great. You’ll like it.”
Claire had told me about it too.
She’d been sprawled on my couch, laughing as she said she’d found a hidden gem and would take me there sometime.
I couldn’t help wondering if Ethan had been the one who went with her last time.
Once he parked, his phone lit up.
There was no name on the screen, just a small blue-sky icon.
Before I could make it out, Ethan turned the phone facedown.
“Client call. I’ll take it outside.”
He got out and walked a long way before answering.
Through the windshield, I watched the tension leave his face.
Then he suddenly stood up straighter. His voice was so excited I could hear him through the glass.
“Are you serious?”
The call ended quickly.
He hurried back, still smiling. When he opened the car door, he forced the smile away.
“An important client wants to sign a contract at the last minute. I have to go.”
I stared at his bright eyes.
“What if I asked you to stay?”
Ethan hesitated, then pulled out his phone and transferred me some money.
“Don’t start.”
“Get something to eat. Buy yourself something if you want.”
“If you get tired of shopping, have the driver pick you up. I’ll probably be late tonight.”
I opened my mouth to say more.
In the end, I said nothing.
I watched him shut the car door and walk away without looking back.
People streamed through the mall.
I moved with the crowd until I stopped outside a jewelry store.
A tarot deck sat in the window.
Claire and I used to sneak off and play with one in school.
When it was time to draw a love card, we pulled the same one.
She’d laughed so hard she’d nearly fallen off her chair.
“Nora, what if we fall for the same guy someday?”
I’d handed her my card and thumped my chest.
“Then you have to tell me.”
“A man will never be more important than you. If you like him, I’ll walk away.”
I never thought my words would come true. We’d fallen for the same man.
I took out my phone and opened Claire’s messages.
The screen lit up and went dark beneath my thumb.
In the end, I put my phone away.
I crouched on the floor and finally let myself sob.
I’d told her I would step aside.
Why had they still lied to me?
For three whole years, they’d turned me into a complete lunatic.