I don’t answer. I’m not convinced.
“You think he’s avoiding me?”
“I think he doesn’t realize how bad it’s gotten. You’re in this huge house alone with only a dog for company while he’s off playing dad with his ex. It’s not fair. And yeah, you’re miserable, but it’s not all on you. He needs to see it.”
“We haven’t had sex in over two weeks,” I admit, barely above a whisper. “Not since the night I broke down and almost froze to death under the tree.”
Anna winces. “Okay, then tomorrow, you need to pull out all the stops. Make dinner. Wear something that reminds him who the hell he married. Bring him back to you, Dee.”
I nod. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”
“I am right,” she says with a smirk.
Just then, the front door opens, and I quickly swipe under my eyes as we sit back down.
“Tell him,” she whispers, as Colt, Johnny, and Hux walk in, laughing about something from theirPeople Magazineinterview. No sign of Dingo.
“Hey, it’s my lady and my little man,” Johnny says, leaning down to kiss Anna. But when he sees her face, his smile fades. “You guys okay? You look… red. Puffy,” he adds, narrowing his eyes.
“Have you been crying?” Colt asks from across the room.
My body goes rigid. This is not how I wanted this to come out.
“No, we were outside… smelling flowers. Got hit with hay fever,” I lie quickly.
Anna snorts beside me and gives me a look that says,Seriously?
“It’s winter,” Hux points out.
“Yeah, weird time, huh?” I mutter, pretending to focus on my laptop. Colt watches me silently, something unreadable in his eyes.
“Hey man, mind if I come to Macy’s with you tonight? I wanna see Caleb,” Hux says, and my stomach sinks. He’s going thereagain.
“Sure,” Colt replies. “You know Caleb thinks you’re a legend. God knows why.”
“Hey, show me that new riff you were talking about,” Hux adds, then they disappear down the hallway.
My forehead drops to the table with a soft thud.
Johnny pulls out a chair. “Okay, what’s going on? Those two idiots may have bought it, but I didn’t.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, not lifting my head. “Colt’s happy. Let him stay that way.”
“Seriously?” Anna groans. “Tell him, or I will,” she warns again.
“Tell Colt what?” Johnny asks, eyes narrowing.
“Dee needs him,” Anna blurts. “And she’s not telling him because she thinks she doesn’t matter anymore. She’s convinced Macy is the better fit, and it’s killing her.”
Johnny exhales. “Dee… he thinks you’re okay. He told us you’re busy with work. He doesn’t know you’re hurting.”
“He shoulddamn-well know!” I snap, sitting up. “If he loves me, he should feel it.”
“Who’s hurting?” Colt’s voice slices into the conversation as he walks back in.
I drop my head again, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. “Nothing. No one’s hurting,” I mumble.
Anna pushes to her feet. “For God’s sake, Dee.”
