Then my gaze drifted to Elena. She was talking to Mom while keeping an eye on Haille, who was busy playing with her toys. Usually, Elena looked genuinely excited whenever she talked to my mom. But this time, something felt off. Her smile looked restrained. Her responses sounded measured. Like she was there, but not fully present.
I walked over to her.
“Oh, Adrian,” Mom said. “You’re leaving again? That’s too bad.”
“Yeah. Why?” I asked, standing beside Elena.
“Elena mentioned that her office is holding a company picnic this Saturday. Avery can’t go, and I won’t be available this weekend.”
“A company picnic?” I paused, then remembered she had brought it up before. I just hadn’t realized it would fall on the same weekend I’d be away, and I couldn’t cancel the trip. The board was expecting my report.
Elena looked at me. “It’s okay. I’ll just go with Haille,” she said casually.
“Baby, I’m sorry I can’t be there,” I said. “You good, right?”
She shrugged. “It’s fine.”
The answer was flat, like whether I showed up or not made no difference at all.
I didn’t like it. But this wasn’t the place to talk about it, so I leaned in and lowered my voice. “Come with me.”
She looked at me, confused, but didn’t argue. After asking my mom to watch Haille for a bit, she followed me down the hallway toward my old bedroom.
Once inside, I closed the door behind us. Elena sat down on the edge of my old bed.
“What is it?” she asked, genuinely clueless.
I let out a slow breath. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” she replied. “What’s wrong with you? You suddenly dragged me in here.”
I walked over and sat beside her. “I’m sorry I can’t go to your office event. Are you... upset?”
She shook her head. “You’re always away for work. This isn’t new.”
“Elena,” I said, turning toward her, “if you’re not okay with it, just say it. You don’t have to hold it in.”
She exhaled lightly. “Even if I asked you to come, you wouldn’t be able to. So what’s the point?”
“I don’t want this either,” I replied. “But I can’t cancel it.”
“Well,” she said, voice cool, “as long as you’re really there for work.”
That did it.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said, her gaze drifting around the room, a space she’d seen countless times before. It was obvious she was avoiding me.
“How many times do I have to explain this?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“How many times do I have to prove it?” I continued. “How long are we going to live like this?”
She finally looked at me. “I already forgave you. Does that mean I’m not allowed to bring it up anymore?”
“Yes,” I said. The word came out harder than I meant, but I didn’t take it back.
Elena let out a breath, slow and tired. “Fine,” she said. “I’m going to head out.”
