Chapter 5

After Julian came back, I realized how used I'd become to living alone. One night, I came out of the bathroom in a loose tank top and found him looking at me. I immediately went back into the bedroom and put on a jacket.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"Things are different now."

I grabbed my pillow and headed for the guest room. "My schedule's been all over the place lately. I'll sleep here."

"I don't mind."

"I do."

He stepped aside. "I'll take you to work tomorrow."

"It's out of your way."

"NorthStar has a meeting near your office."

"I'm seeing a client first."

"There's nothing on the shared calendar."

I'd forgotten our calendars were still synced.

"It was last minute."

"What time? Where?"

I couldn't answer. The next morning at six fifteen, when I opened my bedroom door, the kitchen light was already on. A smoked salmon bagel, the kind I used to love, was waiting on the table.

"Sit down and eat."

I grabbed a single slice of toast. "Running late."

"Let me drive you."

I was out the door before he finished. I walked along Green Lake for ten minutes, then ducked into Blue Heron, a restaurant I used to frequent. Outside the window, a black Tesla pulled up. Julian had followed me.