Finishing my term.
Figuring out what my next step will be professionally, or if I should just say fuck it, buy an RV, and become a hermit somewhere until people forget who I am.
Twenty minutes later, it’s down to just me and Olivia in the house, and I’m helping her with the cleanup.
She glances at me.“It was nice of those two to come down for the funeral.”
I know who she means—Liam and Daniel.“Yes, it was.”
“Have you been spending much time with them lately?Still going to church with them?”
Yeah, I know she’s fishing.“No, I haven’t.Between Dad, and work, you know.”
She tries again a few minutes later.“You don’t have to move out of the DC house, if you don’t want to.”She paid me for my half of the DC house because she didn’t want to move.
I’ve run the numbers—it’s cheaper for me to spend my own money and stay at one of those extended-stay hotels when I need to be in DC.I’ve already purchased a condo in Atlanta and have started using it when I’m here.“It’s all right.I appreciate that, but I’ll be moved out by the end of this month, like we agreed.”
“Where will you be staying in DC?”
“Hotel.”
She scowls.“What?”
“What?”
“Ahotel?”
“Yeah.Why?”
“Not…withthosetwo?”
I’m trying not to get pissed off at her about that, but she’s trying my patience.“No.Again, why?”
She slowly shakes her head.“I just figured since they were your friends that they’d offer you a place to stay.”
“No.They don’t have a guest room, anyway.Besides, I’m not going to impose on someone like that.I can afford to use a hotel.It’s not for too much longer, and will save me a lot of money and aggravation.”
She tries one last time as we’re walking out.“I really don’t mind if you—”
“Olivia, thank you for offering, but no.”
She scowls.“My parents said maybe I should drop the divorce.”
I shake my head.“If you do, I’ll refile it immediately.”I harden my gaze.“And if I do that, I swear I’ll spread the rumor that you’re only trying to stay married to me to sponge off my inheritance.”
Her eyes widen.“You wouldn’t!”
I glare at her.“Try me, lady.You know what my father was like.Don’t assume I didn’t inherit some of his bastardly ways.We’re getting divorced, and that’s final.”
She stomps off in a huff and I wait until she’s left to head to my car.
* * * *
I’ve just emerged from the shower when my doorbell rings.I check the viewfinder first and relief fills me that it’s Liam and Daniel.
When I let them in, they surround me, hugging me, and that’s when all the emotion finally pours out of me.
I break down crying in their arms and they guide me into my bedroom to cradle me between them.
