He frowns. “What does that even mean?”
“It means Colt and I were intense. Passionate. But that kind of fire doesn’t last forever.”
He exhales, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “You’re talking in metaphors now? Dee, listen to me… of course, you can stay here. You always have a place here. But you’re making ahugemistake.”
“Well, I don’t particularly care what you or Danny think right now,” I mutter, regretting the words instantly.
“Hey.”
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “That wasn’t fair. I’m hurting. And I don’t know how to not be with him.”
Joseph softens. “We’ll figure it out.” He pulls me into another hug.
I’m exhausted.
Empty.
Broken.
I sit with Joseph for a while, filling him in on everything. Macy’s reappearance. The truth about Caleb. The quiet unraveling of my marriage.
He listens.
He doesn’t agree, I can tell, but he gets it.
Eventually, I go upstairs to the guest room and start unpacking. I’ll need to get the rest of my stuff eventually, but this will do for now. It gives Colt time to accept what’s happened. I plug in my phone charger and lie down. Princess jumps onto the bed, curling into my side.
I feel bad taking her, but I needed someone to love tonight. And she’s the only one left who hasn’t walked away or been pushed.
My phone lights up.
It’s an image of me and Colt on the screen, his name flashing. My thumb hovers over the screen…
But then I press the side button and let it ring out.
A few moments later, I hear Joseph’s cell phone ring from downstairs. He answers. I can’t hear the words, but I know it’s Colt. I know he’s asking where I am. I don’t listen. I don’t want to hear desperation in his voice, or worse, relief.
My phone buzzes again. Another call. Then a message. I ignore it all and curl tighter into Princess.
Joseph enters quietly, his expression grim. “He knows you’re here,” he says gently. “He sounded… angry. Hurt. He’s not taking this well.”
My phone buzzes again.
“You should talk to him,” Joseph says. “He deserves that much.”
I nod and pick up the phone, then swipe to answer, but stay silent.
“Dee? Baby, are you there?” Colt’s voice is hoarse, almost panicked.
“I’m here.”
“Jesus! Where’s all your stuff? Where’s Princess?”
“She’s with me. So is my stuff. I can’t do this, Colt.”
He breathes heavily. “Can’t do what? Talk to me, Dee. I found your wedding rings. What the hell is going on?”
“I can’t be with you,” I whisper. “You deserve more than me. You have a family now, Colt. You need to be with them. I’m just… in the way.”
