Chapter 3

I was standing right behind Grant when he told his friends I had a high fever.

"Lena can't make it tonight." Holding a glass of wine, he smiled at the birthday boy, Daniel. "She took some medicine and went to bed."

Daniel saw me first.

His smile froze.

Grant turned around so quickly that the wine in his glass sloshed.

"What are you doing here?"

Everyone in the living room looked at me.

Sabrina was sitting on the couch with a glass of Grant's favorite whiskey in front of her.

I handed my coat to the attendant. My fingers were so stiff that I could barely undo the buttons.

"Claire asked if I'd been hospitalized." I stared at him. "That's how I found out I was apparently so sick."

Daniel rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Grant said you needed to rest."

Grant strode over and grabbed my elbow. "We're talking outside."

I wrenched my arm free. "Don't touch me."

The room fell silent.

Sabrina immediately rose to her feet, her face full of concern.

"Lena, this is my fault." She caught hold of Grant's sleeve. "My apartment still isn't ready, so Grant invited me out to get my mind off everything. I didn't know you wanted to come too."

I looked down at her hand. "Am I not allowed to be here?"

Her face turned pale, but she didn't release Grant. "That's not what I meant."

"Enough." Grant clenched his jaw. "You've already made this uncomfortable for everyone."

A heavy pressure built in my chest. "I'm the one making everyone uncomfortable?"

"I didn't want you coming here and picking a fight with her!" He stepped forward, shielding me from the other guests' stares. "Wasn't yesterday's scene enough?"

"Get this through your head. I'm your wife!"

Grant rubbed his brow. "You've been emotionally unstable lately. I'm tired of constantly dealing with your temper."

Several people immediately looked away.

My face burned as my nails dug into my palms.

Daniel stepped in to smooth things over. "You're already here. Why don't you sit down?"

At the dining table, Grant's place card had originally been set beside mine.

Sabrina's seat was at the other end, but someone had moved her place card next to his.

When she noticed me looking, she hurriedly reached for it. "Someone sat in the wrong place earlier. I was just about to move it back."

Grant put his hand over hers. "Don't."

He picked up my place card and set it in the empty spot across the table.

The slip of paper landed without a sound, yet tears nearly sprang to my eyes.

"It doesn't matter where anyone sits." He pulled out Sabrina's chair for her.

Claire took my hand and whispered, "Do you want me to go outside with you?"

Sabrina picked up one of the cards on the table and bumped Grant's shoulder with a laugh.

"Daniel made another couples quiz. You'd better not lose to me again."

Grant didn't correct her.

He looked down at the card, a faint smile touching his lips.

I pulled my hand away from Claire and turned to retrieve my coat.

Behind me, someone whispered, "Aren't Grant and Lena still married?"

Another guest quickly shushed her.

As I pushed open the front door, Sabrina's laughter drifted from inside.

She was answering a question about Grant's favorite vacation destination.

"Florence."

Grant laughed. "That's right."