Evan didn’t say anything right away. Just looked at me. All the teasing faded.
He watched me for a beat, then said, “So what now?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s probably nothing.”
“You sure about that?”
I didn’t answer.
He nodded like he already knew. “Man, you never get caught up like this. That’s what’s throwing you. I don’t remember you like this ever, not with Kelly either.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “That’s exactly it.”
We sat there for a minute, both of us watching the street beyond the patio—families walking past, someone in flip-flops carrying a surfboard, headlights pulling into the liquor store lot across the way.
Evan raised his bottle and bumped mine. “To not making it a thing… unless it turns into a thing.”
I laughed under my breath and took a sip.
But even then, I already knew, I’d probably already made it a thing.
CHAPTER 10
IN THE WEEDS
JASON
After I couldn’t make it home for the Christmas concert, I noticed a shift in Natalie. Usually, she just got over things or acted as if they never happened. She hated conflict, avoided fights, and I was the same way. We were never the couple who yelled or slammed doors. We never held grudges, at least I didn’t think we did. But now she seemed irritated, more distant than before.
When my plane touched down I texted her.
Jason: Hey, I just landed. Going to catch an Uber, then I’ll be home. Want to order Thai for dinner?
I knew that was her favorite takeout. She didn’t respond for a while. When she did, it was short and clipped.
Natalie: Sure, that’s fine.
When I got home, the house was empty. I realized she must be picking up the kids. I set my bags down and headed upstairs to shower. The past week was a rollercoaster, but we closed the deal and the company’s future was secure. I planned to tell Natalie the good news tonight.
When the kids got home they were excited to see me, and I scooped them both up in my arms.
Natalie came in from the garage a few moments after them, balancing their backpacks over one shoulder and a coffee in her free hand.
“Need help?” I asked.
“I’m good,” she said.
I walked over anyway and took the coffee and the bags from her.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
No hug, no asking how I was.
That night, we ordered dinner and watched a movie as a family. I must have dozed off because when I woke up, everyone had already gone upstairs. It was nearly midnight.
I went up to bed and found Natalie asleep, a book resting on her chest. She looked peaceful with her hair piled on top of her head. I wanted her. Needed her. Maybe that was part of the problem, I had been absent in more ways than one. I moved the book and leaned in, brushing a slow kiss against her lips. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open just enough to see me.
“Hi,” I whispered.
