He slid his phone into his pocket just as he reached the door of The Dream Bar. Paige was already waiting at their regular table. He stopped to whisper to the bartender. After leaving the coffee shop the other day, he had called Paige. His run-in with Maya had made it clear to him what he needed to do. He needed to move on. He fingered Paige’s engagement ring in his pocket.
She looked up when he approached. “Hey, you.” Her eyes were swollen and tired.
“Hey.” He stood there, suddenly awkward with the woman he had planned to spend his life with.
“You’re late.” She smirked. Punctuality was a pet peeve of his.
Sam laughed. “Sorry. I was meeting with my real estate agent, and time got away from me.”
She motioned to a chair opposite her. “Have a seat.”
Sam sat and ordered a bourbon. Paige sipped her dirty martini. “Why am I here, Sam?”
He placed the ring on the table in front of her. “I want to apologize for being an ass.”
Her eyes saddened. “I should have told you what I overheard on Diwali.”
Sam shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, well... But I know why you didn’t. I’m sorry I was so harsh on you. You’re intelligent, and funny and beautiful, and I do love you.”
“But...” Paige twirled her drink, suddenly very interested in what was inside her glass.
“But we lie to each other.”
Her eyes filled almost instantly with tears and she nodded her head in agreement. “Couples should not lie to one another.” Her breath caught as tears dripped down. She hastily wiped them away. “Especially if they’re getting married.”
Sam sipped his bourbon as she gathered herself. Even though he had expected tears, they still made him feel terrible. No matter that this was best for both of them. The thick liquid added to the heaviness of the moment. He held her hand across the table. She pulled it away. “Don’t, Sam. Don’t be nice to me. Not when I need to hate you for a while.”
They stared at each other, letting the awkwardness build.
“I don’t know what I want anymore.” Sam leaned toward her and she stared him in the eye.
“Quite frankly, Sam, I have been thinking. I deserve more.” Her voice got stronger. “I deserve someone who looks at me the way you look at Maya.”
“I’m angry because I missed out on my daughter, and I don’t look at Maya—”
“Save it, Sam. If you don’t see, you don’t see it.” She shook her head at him as if he were a young child. Silence fell between them, during which they both sipped from their glasses. “Why do you have a real estate agent?”
Sam grinned at her, happy for a moment. “Fresh start. The one thing I do know is what I want to do with my law degree. I quit my job and I’m opening up my own practice. And I’m going to get to know my daughter.”
“What about Congress—all the work you did for that?” Paige took an olive out of her drink and popped it in her mouth.
“You’re the candidate, not me. Everything we did came from you. You should run.”
She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head as if considering this possibility for the first time. “Would I have your vote?” A smile twitched at her lips.
“Depends on what your stances are.” He smiled at her.
She nodded and the smile broke through. She looked pointedly at the ring. “You wouldn’t dare be asking me back, would you?”
Sam shook his head slowly. “Do you really want me to?”
“No.” Her answer was firm, but her eyes betrayed her. “I do love you, but you’re not good for me.”
He gulped at his drink. “Like I said, fresh start. You love that ring. You had it designed to your specifications. It’s yours.”
She laughed but her eyes glistened with tears again.
Sam covered her hand with his. She tried to pull back, but Sam held firm. “You go back to the apartment. I found a new place. I’ll come get the rest of my things while you’re at work.”
