I wait for him to choose me. He doesn’t.
“Just go,” he says with a shrug.
“What?” I step forward, careful not to spook him.
“It’s work, right? They need you to come, and I need you to go. I need you to figure out whatever has you stuck.” At last he focuses his clear hazel eyes on mine and swipes his thumb over my shoulder with almost a tenderness. Almost.
With all my heart, I want to lean in, but I keep myself rigid. He misconstrues even my weekend invitations. I need to hear what he has to say.
“And then come back and be excited to go away with your family. Whether it be to this blasted cottage or somewhere else.”
I wither under his hand. “But, Clint, I—”
“Don’t. Just go. Erika needs time to cool off.” He pulls me against his hard chest. “This is a huge week for you. I keep forgetting. Own it, and then let’s figure us out.”
I nod into his chest, unsure if I’m being a good wife by listening to my husband’s needs or simply doing what I know, way deep down, under the wreckage, I want to do. Fearing the latter, I breathe in the rustic woody scent of him.
He’s the first to step back.
^^^
An hour later, I’m approaching the address of the coffee shop Alyssa texted me, only to see a septic van parked up on the curb and men in overalls walking in and out of the propped door. We won’t be going anywhere near here. I dig for my phone and see a five-minute-old textfrom her telling me of a sewer pipe issue at the café and saying they’re heading around the corner to the Rotterdam Room.
I rock back on my pony heels. I could text her back and divert us, but what reason would I give?
Alyssa and Temor smile up at me as I enter the restaurant. Part café, part bar, it has the vibe of a members-only club but is open to all. I’ve never seen an advertisement. The dark lighting, lack of Wi-Fi, and small tables make it an unusual spot for our kind of business. I keep my gaze directly on them, and pull my thoughts and my eyes from scampering toward the red velour corner booth. I take a deep breath and shove back my shoulders.
“Thanks for the field trip, boss. Nice to get out of the office.” Alyssa unfolds a hook under the table and hangs her bag on it.
I blink. Did she just happen to find that handy gadget? I never knew the tables had those. Always just plopped my bag on our booth. I still refuse to look in that direction.
Temor glances around. “This is a cool place. No idea it was here.”
That was always the point.
“I’ve been here a few times.” Alyssa looks directly at me.
The hairs on the back of my neck twitch.
Her unlined face appears relaxed, but is there something odd in her tone?
“How about you, Meredith?” Temor asks as he picks up the beverage list in the center of the table.
I smile. “Why don’t we get something to drink, maybe a snack, and you guys can let me know what you found.”
After our seltzers with splashes of various fruit juices are placed in front of us, Alyssa takes a tiny sip and then clears her throat. “Temor and I combed through the agreement. The terms were clear, very straightforward.”
Temor continues when Alyssa raises her napkin to her lips.Probably covering a little burp. That’s the thing about seltzer drinks. “We also reviewed the indemnities, guarantees, and exit strategies. It would probably have been better to have a lawyer with us—”
“Don’t let him fool you.” Alyssa jumps in. “He may not be a lawyer, but he can certainly play one on TV. He knows the phrasing, can parse the references, and could even anticipate future clauses.”
I grin at this obvious pairing. I should have teamed them up ages ago. “Strong praise. So, what did you find?”
Alyssa and Temor look at each other. “Nothing.”
My shoulders deflate. “Nothing? Why are we here?”
Alyssa nods at Temor, prompting him to speak. “The point is why the contract exists at all. Our ETFs are listed but with no obvious counterparty.”
