Chapter 6

• SAVANNAH
• Riley squealed in my ear when the call ended. “Sexy voice,” she remarked.
• “He oozes sexiness everywhere.”
• I couldn’t believe the man would personally meet me. He could’ve sent anyone to deliver my cell.
• Rafael. His name was Rafael. I wondered what his family name was. I wanted to stalk him on social media.
• “Do you girls know what time it is?” Wesley complained. “Can we go home now?”
• Riley’s mouth twitched. “You’re just jealous. Nancy broke up with you.”
• Wes glared at his sister. “Shut up. Are you a child?”
• “Nancy broke up with you? Why didn’t you tell me?” I questioned. This was news. We always told everyone about everything. Riley was biting her bottom lip, looking down.
• Wes waved his hand dismissively. “I just didn’t want to worry you.”
• I pouted. Sure, I’d be worried. Wes met Nancy because of me. “I’m sorry.”
• “It’s not your fault.” He smiled, patting my shoulder. “Hey, it’s getting late. I have an early meeting tomorrow.”
• “Oh, of course.” I nodded, then looked at Riley. “Are you going to your boyfriend?”
• Her shoulders shrunk. “No. I can’t sleep there. Kyle’s mother visited yesterday. You?”
• “I’ll go to the apartment to pick up a few things.” Unfortunately, that was still my house. “Good luck with that,” Wes said.
• “If you and Edward made up, tell us immediately,” Riley teased.
• I grunted at the idea. “He has to beg me first and tell me his reason.” I wanted him on his knees, but if he couldn’t do that he didn’t have space in my life.
• I wasn’t lost. I didn’t need him. There would be new opportunities to grow my career, and maybe I would date again when I was ready.
• ***
• Edward was in the living room when I arrived home. He had popcorn on his lap, and his legs were cozily resting on the coffee table, watching a zombie TV series he started a few weeks ago. I had seen a few episodes of it, so I stopped by the couch and grabbed a handful of popcorn from his bucket.
• Our five-hundred-square-meter apartment at Claymore on 46th Street had a master bedroom, a nursery room turned office, a kitchen of my dreams, and a living room big enough for ten people. Everything was perfect. I was content.
• Until Edward ruined it.
• My soon-to-be ex-husband shifted his attention to me.
• I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
• He glanced at the clock and looked back at me. “It’s late.”
• “Yeah, so why aren’t you sleeping?” I answered him in question. I ate another handful of popcorn without breaking eye contact.
• “You said you’d come home, so I waited like I always did. It’s one in the morning, Savi.”
• He was really getting weirder by the day. “So?”
• “So?” He put the popcorn away and stood up. “I was worried. You were never this late.”
• “Don’t act like you care.”
• “Why wouldn’t I care? You’re still my wife.”
• “But I won’t always be, remember?”
• He sighed. “I don’t want to fight, Savi. Let’s do this peacefully, okay? While we’re still together?”
• I rose to my feet, crossing my arms. “Then tell me the real reason.”
• He opened his mouth, but he didn’t answer. He rested his hands on his waist.
• “Yeah, I didn’t expect much.” The problem was, I knew him too damn much. Better than anyone. I knew him at his best and I saw him at his worst. Edward wasn’t good at lying, so he’d chosen silence.
• “I already told you,” he whispered, avoiding my eyes.
• “Edward, it’s not too late. If you still care for me, let’s prevent making the biggest mistake of our lives. But if you don’t, just stop pretending.”
• “It’s... complicated.”
• I nodded, unfolding my arms. “Then don’t talk to me until you make up your mind and tell me what’s wrong. Night, Edward.”
• ***
• My suitcase was packed when I came out of our bedroom in the morning. Edward slept in the living room and didn’t bother me the entire night. It was one of his manners I admired throughout our years together. He gave me space if I wanted one.
• I smelled coffee in the air, and glasses and plates were clinking at the dining. I wasn’t going to stop until he called me.
• “Have breakfast before you leave.”
• He was dressed in my favorite blue three-piece pinstripe suit and wore the wristwatch I gave him for his birthday. Today was Tuesday, so he had a minor shareholder meeting this morning. He was New Star Media’s managing director, while his older brother Brett was the Vice-CEO. I was their marketing executive.
• I opened my mouth to refuse, but he stopped me.
• “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything.”
• I let go of the suitcase handle and walked to the dining. I pulled a chair and sat quietly at my table like a visitor being offered to eat.
• Edward put eggs and pancakes on my plate, poured maple syrup on top like he always did, and served me a cup of coffee. This was why I wanted to ignore the signals of his sudden indifference. He still acted like the perfect husband I thought he was.
• “Thanks,” I whispered.
• But he didn’t kiss me this time. He always did, every morning.
• Edward perched at the head of the table, his usual seat, and started eating. We looked like a normal couple, but we weren’t.
• I wanted to get angry and shout at him. I wanted to ask why he was doing this to me. He confused me. He made me want to forget those words he said to me. I wanted to hate him, but whenever he was like this, I just wanted to fix things. But I knew it would be pathetic.
• “Are you going to the office today?” Edward asked.
• “Yes. I have a week for the transition. Emma will temporarily take my position.”
• He nodded. “Then let’s go together.”
• “We don’t have to. I can drive myself.”
• He nodded again and glanced at my suitcase. “Are you taking that to Michael’s?”
• “Yes. Just a few clothes and books. I’ll come back for the rest.”
• “This is your house, too. Can’t you wait until the divorce?”
• Divorce. He said it again. He wasn’t going to change his decision. There wasn’t a chance to fix things.
• “Are you giving it to me?”
• He picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. “I wanted to talk about this. But since you’re already moving out and didn’t say much, I thought maybe you wanted this too.”
• I stopped eating and dropped my utensils. Was he expecting I’d stop him? “I said we’re not going to talk about this until you give me a proper explanation.”
• He clenched his fist. “But you’re moving out. You quit your job and start to cut off ties. I didn’t ask you to do that. We aren’t just married, Savi. We’re friends too.”
• Edward and I had misunderstandings, but we never really had a bad fight. We had problems, but we always tried to fix them in a civilized way. We mostly avoided things that could hurt each other’s feelings and let the issue subside. Well, not anymore.
• “What am I supposed to do, Ed?”
• “How about you talk to me when you’re ready, mm?”
• “Hey, I was the one waiting for you to talk.”
• He stood up and buttoned his suit. “I’ll see you in the office.”
• He walked away.
• Damn it. I wasn’t sure what I wanted anymore. I felt melancholy. Talking to him about the separation scared me.
• Edward was like a part of my habits. He was always included in my plans and my dreams. What I wanted to be, he was there with me. He was my first love, the only man I’d ever wanted since high school, but suddenly he would be gone. My future without him would be like a fog, an unknown and blurry distance I had to walk alone. But what surprised me more was my waking curiosity about freeing from those old habits and the liberty to find oneself that I didn’t have the chance to explore.
• The entire loop of thoughts hurt my brain.
• Edward was right about one thing. It was complicated.