Chapter 2

The maître d' smiled when he saw me. "Mr. Cross's guests are already here."

My grip on my phone loosened.

Maybe he'd changed his mind.

Maybe the coat and his telling me to leave first had only meant he couldn't get away just yet.

The maître d' opened the private dining room door for me.

Every seat at the long table was taken.

Selena sat beside Aiden, holding a cake knife.

I'd chosen that cake.

Vanilla cream, with the strawberries he loved between the layers.

When I'd made the reservation, I'd specifically asked the chef to use less sugar because Aiden had been complaining about his throat lately.

Now the chocolate plaque had been taken off the top and laid facedown at the edge of a plate.

I couldn't see the words.

But I knew what they said: Happy Third Anniversary.

"What are you doing here?"

Aiden was the first to stand.

I looked at him, suddenly unsure how to answer.

I'd booked this dinner for our anniversary, and he was asking why I'd come.

The maître d' still held the door.

"And this is…?"

Aiden hesitated.

"A friend. Could you add another place?"

I stayed in the doorway.

A server brought over a chair, and the people at the table squeezed closer together, leaving me a spot nearest the door.

Selena looked up.

"Leah, come try some. Aiden says this is his favorite flavor."

He steadied her plate for her.

I stared at his hand.

"Come outside for a minute."

In the hallway, Aiden closed the door and glanced both ways before speaking.

"Didn't I ask you to go home?"

"This was our dinner."

"Everyone needed somewhere to go at the last minute, so I told them to come here."

"You could've picked somewhere else."

"It's not that easy with this many people."

He reached out and put his hands on my shoulders, his palms warm through my dress.

I knew that touch too well.

Whenever he needed me to give in around other people, he would lean close like this and murmur something only I could hear.

"I'll have dinner with you when this is over."

I didn't pull away as I asked him:

"Did you tell me to wear this so I could watch you kiss her?"

His hands slowly fell away.

"I was going to tell everyone about us."

"Then what happened?"

"The publicity plans changed at the last minute. Selena was already onstage. I couldn't embarrass her like that."

Laughter came from inside the room.

Someone called for him, saying the cake was almost gone.

I looked at the dab of cream on his collar.

"Then tell them now."

"Tell them what?"

"That I'm your wife."

He frowned.

"Tonight's not the right time."

"It's our wedding anniversary."

"I know."

"You know, and you still acted like that with her?"

He lowered his voice.

"Do you have to humiliate her in front of everyone?"

I suddenly thought of the chair they'd brought over for me.

Even the server knew I hadn't been expected at that table.

But all he cared about was her.

I stepped back, his hands' warmth still lingering on my shoulders.

"Were you the one who took the chocolate plaque off beforehand?"

Aiden didn't answer.

The door opened, and Selena poked her head out.

"We're taking a group photo. Just waiting on you."

He called back to her, then turned to me.

"Give me a few minutes. Don't leave. We're not done talking."

I stared at the light spilling through the doorway.

He'd already stepped back inside and returned to her side.

A server passed by and asked if I wanted another place setting.

"No, thank you."

I walked to the elevator and opened the reservation confirmation.

Table for two.

Special request: Wedding anniversary.

I sent Aiden a screenshot, then typed:

"I'm not coming home tonight. You don't need to sit through a second dinner for me, either."

My phone rang immediately.

As the elevator doors closed, for the first time, I didn't answer.