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“I never got the chance to ask Kenny to stop having logs made.”
“And of course you read them anyway.”
He doesn’t respond.
“That was a corporate lawyer, not a divorce lawyer. I was making Frank a partner.”
“I bought that company for you,” he says with accusation.
“He’s got a lot of experience and connections in the industry. He’s got a lot of great ideas, too. Besides… I need the help.”
He says nothing.
He made the company completely mine. And when I started working there again, the fact that he put it in the name Chloe Steele is how I found out he had my name legally changed, too. It’s how I have to sign things, which I found extremely annoying as I got used to it.
“It’s three in the morning, Derek. You left the hospital three days ago. So, why are you here now?”
His eyes move to me, and he stares at me for a long, uncomfortable moment. But he doesn’t say anything, and my bladder is nagging at me, so I get out of bed, pull my robe on, and go to the bathroom.
When I come out, he’s still standing in the same spot. He’s staring at the bed.
I walk out, go down the hall to my office and grab the envelope from my briefcase.
His eyes are on what’s in my hand when I get back. And they’re like dark glaciers. Colder than I’ve even seen on his father or his brother Elijah. I feel the chill straight through to my marrow.
“Don’t you wanna know what this is?” I ask.
“Do I?” he fires back.
I shrug. “Okay, forget it.” I toss the envelope to the table.
He stares me down with the stone-cold expression.
“Is there something else?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer.
“It’s three in the morning. I’d like to try to get some more sleep, so if you just came here to mean-mug me, mission accomplished.”
“Mean mug you?”
“Stare meanly. Intimidatingly.”
He turns away and leaves.
I don’t know what the hell that was, but I lie in bed pondering it, pondering him, until the sun is up, and I decide that although it’s the weekend, I’d might as well get up and make myself useful. More useful than staring into the void pondering the facts, especially the obvious one – Derek went into the hospital vowing he loves me, but came out looking like he now despises me.
When I get to the kitchen, I startle. Derek is drinking milk from the carton. He’s in a pair of track pants, a white T-shirt. Bare feet.
And there, on his left hand, is his wedding ring.
He’s still wearing it.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of it.
“I didn’t know you were still here,” I say.
“I live here,” he mutters, not looking at me, tossing the empty milk carton into the trash.
