I could feel Naomi’s eyes on me, and Mal gave one of those weary sighs.
“It’s not about you, Saylor,” Mal muttered. “Hopefully, if we don’t pay it any attention, the news will die off, and those fuckers will go stalk someone else.”
“Not likely to happen if they frame it that she left her fiancé for you,” Naomi muttered.
“Yeah well, I didn’t ask for your opinion, so I’d appreciate it if you shut your trap.” Mal scowled as he tugged on his beanie. “How long ‘til we get there?”
“Fourteen minutes, sir,” the previously quiet driver answered.
“Thanks,” Mal grumbled. “Do you have my sunglasses, Nay?”
Naomi opened the center console and passed a pair of sunglasses back to Mal.
He slid them on then slumped in his seat. “Wake me when we get there.”
I sighed and stared out my window.
And that was how the entire day went. Mal ran errand after errand to sort out the red tape of his best friend’s death. Despite offering more than once, Mal didn’t want me to help him with any of the appointments. I didn’t get out of the car.
But Naomi did.
And she gave me a haughty little smile every time.
It hurt.
And I hated that I was making the most painful moment of Mal’s life about me, but he was shutting me out. What was the point of having a spouse if you weren’t going to lean on them in hard times?
He had no problem offering to be my rock when he’d convinced me to marry him. He said all those pretty words about loving each other and helping me with my career, but he clearly wasn’t going to let me do the same for him.
What was I even doing here?
When we got to his lawyer’s office, I didn’t wait for him to order me to stay in the car.
I opened my door and hopped out, stretching my arms over my head with a groan. Tipping my head back, I tried to absorb a little vitamin D.
“What are you doing, Saylor? This’ll be a quick meeting, and then we’ll go home.”
Like I knew that. He hadn’t given me a hint about where we were going or what we were doing. “I assume they have a restroom? I’d like to pee.”
Naomi muffled her laugh behind her hand.
I was so over her mean girl shit.
“Fine, come on then.” Mal huffed like it was an annoying request, and unlike earlier, he didn’t hold my hand as we walked toward the large building.
I tried not to let it bother me.
When we entered, we were immediately greeted by the slender and businesslike receptionist. “Mister Holt, welcome. Elizabeth is waiting for you in her office. Right this way.”
“I know the way. Do you mind showing my wife to the restroom? She’d like to freshen up.”
She was businesslike until she heard the word ‘wife.’ She swung her head to me, and it looked like she’d been slapped. Rubbing her bright red lips together, she nodded. “Of course.” Her voice was hoarse. “Right this way, Missus Holt.”
Mal didn’t even spare me a glance. He just turned and walked down the hall on the left with Naomi trailing behind.
I followed the receptionist the other way and ducked into the room she waved me toward.
I avoided my reflection in the mirror and took care of my business, but as I was washing my hands, I couldn’t miss the pain I glimpsed in my eyes.
