Home, Finally, Without Him

way, my arms wrapped around my knees. The house was s

allery shows, captivated, he said, by a painting of a stormy sea. He

rms. "I' ll build you the most beautiful studio. You' ll never have to worry a

weapon. "Don' t forget who pay

ad was just a transacti

g the door behind me. I didn' t want to be in the same bed as hi

come look

f the bed was empty. He was

th Liam' s charming smile and my thoughtful eyes. She was the reason I had stayed through all the other

r on the swings, forcing a smile ont

Higher!" she squ

ng a lie, a perfect mother in a perfect park with a perfect dau

bath, my phone rang. It was an unknow

ell

ing?" a familiar, c

as C

ribs. "Who is this?" I aske

y sweet. "I' m so sorry to call you, but Liam' s had a bit too m

sink in. "He asked me to call you

y first instinct was to hang up, to tell her to deal with him herself. But a dark, mo

I asked, my voice

part of the city I knew he didn' t own. She made sure to a

arah and asked her to come over. She was the

told her the plan. "What are you going

ed to see it for myself. I ca

ncern. "Okay. But call me the sec

ss balconies. I found her apartment number and stood outside the door for a long minute, my

pressed t

artment behind her was messy. A man' s jacket-Liam' s jacket-was thrown over a chair. Two empty w

here

ly, completely oblivious. The sight of him, so vulnerable and pathetic in another woman

ed disg

voice a soft purr. "He'

over to the sofa and shook Liam' s shoul

pen. When he saw me, a slow, drun

hing for me. "My beautif

iss, his breath sour with wine.

. He turned to Chloe, who was watching us

y, Chloe," he said, his words

intimate joke I

heavy over my shoulders. He was mumbling apologies and promis

y you. She' s just a k

years, I had believed his lies because I wanted to. I had accepted his apologies because leaving seemed har

clearly for the first time. He wasn' t a god who could give me the w

and left him on the bed. As I was walking back to my

t, my hand

e. It was sweet of you

sage appeare

Mrs. Sterling. I plan to be the only one. When I

uelty, took my breath away. It wasn' t just

-