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Rafe’s face changed. All the tension, all the little lines around his mouth and eyes, smoothed out. “You’ve made a decision? You’re breaking things off?”
I nodded.
“Are you a hundred-percent sure that’s what you want?”
Ninety-eight would’ve been more accurate. I couldn’t get rid of that funny little niggle somewhere in the recesses of my mind. But I wasn’t sure people ever felt a hundred-percent sure about major life changes. They were always scary. So I nodded again. “I’m sure.”
On our walk home, the mood was oddly somber. Rafe had seemed less tense after I told him I planned to break things off with Calder, but now it seemed we both felt…sad. Neither of us wanted to hurt Calder. Again. Rafe held my hand as we went, but neither of us said much. The City moved around us in the chaotic way it always did—cars honking, people walking in all directions, music playing somewhere—but everything felt muted. Like the whole world was giving us a last few quiet moments before everything imploded.
When we reached the brownstone, Rafe stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to face me, taking both of my hands. “You okay?” he asked.
I looked down. “No.”
His mouth lifted, but there wasn’t much humor. “Me neither.”
“I don’t want tonight to end.”
“I don’t either.”
I sighed. “But tomorrow is coming anyway.”
He lifted our hands and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, right above the ring he’d given me. “Then let’s not give it any more thought. Let’s enjoy our time together.”
I nodded, though I couldn’t shake the feeling of melancholy settling over me.
We climbed the steps together. Rafe reached past me and opened the front door.
I stepped inside, and both of us stopped dead in our tracks.
Calder stood in the foyer.
He was dressed in a suit, his suitcase beside him. He looked tired from traveling. When he saw me, he smiled, but that smile wilted almost immediately when his eyes lifted over my shoulder and landed on Rafe.
“Calder,” I breathed. “You’re home.”
“I took the early flight.” His eyes moved between us. “Wanted to get back as soon as I could.”
“Oh.” I forced a stiff smile. “Great.”
He tilted his head. “Don’t I at least get a hug?”
“Ummm…” I had no idea how to handle this impossible situation, so I went with what I thought would keep the peace. “Of course.”
My stomach twisted as I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. His arms closed around me, and I shut my eyes. He held me for a long time—which felt interminable with Rafe standing right behind me.
When Calder finally let go, I stepped back.
Rafe cleared his throat. “Hey, Calder.”
Calder looked at him but didn’t say hello. He just stared until the silence stretched so long it became unbearable. Then, his gaze shifted to me. “Can we go upstairs?”
I glanced at Rafe.
He looked down, then nodded once. Not because he was okay with it, but because he understood I didn’t have another option.
“I’ll see you later,” I said quietly.
Rafe’s eyes met mine. For a second, I thought he was going to say something, but then he only swallowed.
