“Bye, Handsome,” I say, waving at him, smiling.
The seagull calls out and flaps away, heading back toward the beach.
By the time I reach my apartment, I’m tired. What time is it?
It’s after 4:00. As I head for the front door of the building, my heart freezes, seeing Lincoln standing there with his hands in his pockets, giving me a shy smile.
-??-
Chapter 43
“How do you know where I live?” I ask, angry but also… delighted that Lincoln is standing there.
“You were going home super late at night and you expected that I wasn't going to make sure you got home safely? Plus you didn't want to tell me that you were safe.”
“So you followed me home like a freaking creep?”
“So, when I was married to you, if I did something like that it wouldn't be creepy… but,”
“Yes, keyword ‘married’. You're not married to me anymore. So itiscreepy,” I say, walking past him.
“I'll pay you to come with me.”
“Oh myGod, Lincoln, you're notgettingit!” I whirl around on him, hands outstretched in frustration before dropping them.
“You already have someone who can go with you,” I inform him, holding my hand out to my side at nothing in particular before dropping it again.
“And I already told you I don't feel comfortable with Sarah going with me.”
“What would have happened if we had not met each other again? Hmm?”
“Then I would have to go by myself.”
“Thereyou go. You'resogood at solving problems. Dothat.”
“But you're here.”
“So you just automatically think that somehow obligates me to go with you because we were once married?”
“No. I said I would pay you.”
“And I said no.”
The silence hangs there. How many times did I bend over backwards to please this man? Is he that used to not hearing the word “no” from me?
Lincoln just stands there biting his lip, and I can see his chest rising and falling a little faster. “All right,” he says stiltedly as he walks past me back toward where he parked his car.
I stand there still, looking at the building with my back to him now.
Damn it.
Looking over my shoulder as he walks away sadly, in defeat, I feel like shit.
But why should I?
I start heading inside the building… then stop.
No way in hell I’m running out there to go get him, so I call him on the phone instead.
