Page 116 of The Bad Husband

“I was asking you whether you’re still interested in getting a new man?”

“I’m working on it,” I say, with a smile.

“Are you seeing someone right now?”

“Sort of.”

“Care to share?”

“I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to jinx it. On top of that… I’ve got a new customer,” I say, watching a mom and her five-year-old climb out of a car and heading my way.

“All right. Talk to you later.”

We hang up, and I go back to the counter before the bell above the door chimes, and I greet them with a smile.

LILA

I go straight home after work.

I shower and go to bed, hoping to take a nap instead of waking up in the middle of the night.

No such luck.

It’s dark outside when I open my eyes.

The reflection of the pool moves over the ceiling like a giant cloud of northern lights, bluish-green ribbons woven with a sprinkle of fire.

I’ll miss this view in New York.

As much as I love my Brooklyn apartment, the fact that there are so many things to do and so many places to visit grows on me.

I push upright and slide off the bed, searching for my slippers.

Faint voices drift through the house.

Livia is still here, so it can’t be that late.

I pick up the phone and check the time. It’s only nine. She’s probably getting ready to leave.

Maybe I should go downstairs and have dinner while she’s here. It’s been a little spooky here lately with no one in the house but me.

I usually avoid coming home too early.

And despite what Damon said, I can’t feel at home when he’s not here. I feel like I’ve trespassed his property.

It’s not easy to feel comfortable here, and it’s not because I’m alone. It’s because Henrietta lives in the house, and whatever arrangement they have now, they also have history together.

She’s very much part of his life, and whether he used to own this property when they were together for real makes little difference to me.

It’s even worse if he did.

I toss a robe over my pajamas and head to the first floor.

Livia is in the kitchen, talking on the phone.

“Yes, sir.”

The seriousness in her voice makes me stop and step back before hiding next to the door outside.