Chapter 2

Cassidy stood in the entryway, cold radiating off her, while I stood in the bedroom doorway in my pajamas.

Her gaze landed on the shirt Faith was wearing, and something ignited behind her eyes.

"You tramp!"

She spat the words and slapped Faith hard across the face. The crack of it rang out sharp.

"Cassidy!"

I lunged forward with a shout and put myself between them.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Cassidy watched me shield Faith, and the chill in her eyes deepened.

"What, does it hurt you to see her like this? Arnold, we're not even divorced yet. Do you really think I'm already out of the picture?"

She yanked a checkbook out of her bag, scrawled a signature across a check, and flung it at Faith's face.

"Take the money and get lost. Don't ever let me catch you near him again."

Faith didn't move to pick it up. Instead, she looked past me, straight at my face, and held my gaze for a long moment.

"Ms. Solen, Mr. Kempton is very good in bed. You really didn't treat him well enough."

"You want to die?"

Something vicious snapped loose in Cassidy's eyes, and she swung her purse back, ready to lunge again.

"Enough!"

I grabbed Cassidy's arm and bit out the words.

"Cassidy, if you so much as touch her again, there's no coming back from that. We're done."

Cassidy froze mid-motion and turned to stare me down. Faith gave me one last look, then strode out the door without a backward glance.

Once she was gone, Cassidy shook off my hand and brushed at her sleeve, disgusted.

"Disgusting?" I said, my voice flat. "Not half as disgusting as you staying a virgin for Preston."

At the name, something in Cassidy's composure faltered.

"Don't drag Preston into this. The problem between us is that you have no shame."

"Since I have no shame, then let's get divorced."

Her eyes twitched at how easily the words came out of me, and she snatched her car keys.

"Fine. Let's go, Arnold. You're the one who chose this."

Neither of us said a word on the drive to the county clerk's office. Not until we sat down at the counter did the clerk hand us the forms to fill out. The current divorce procedures were complex, requiring a full month to be successfully completed.

"Don't count on walking away with any of my money in this. You're the one who cheated first.

"You're moving out for that month. I don't want to see your face.

"And another thing..."

Cassidy lit another cigarette, her voice catching. She'd clearly decided I'd spend the period clinging to her, whether over money or feelings. All I felt was a mix of bitter amusement and heartache.

"Let's just sign an agreement," I said. "Once the procedures are completed, the divorce goes through automatically for both of us. No need to come back and confirm it in person. We never have to see each other again."

Cassidy went still, the hand holding her cigarette frozen halfway to her mouth. She stared into my eyes as if trying to make sure, over and over, that she'd heard me right.

That was when her phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, the tension and hesitation drained out of her face, replaced by something soft.

"Hey, Preston. Your flight got moved up? Okay, okay, I'll come get you right now..."

When she hung up, every trace of hesitation had vanished from her eyes. She didn't waste any more words on me. She signed her name to the agreement right there.

"Remember what you said. The farther you disappear, the better."

She threw the agreement at me and walked off.

I signed my own name without a second thought, drew a slow breath, and swallowed down the sting behind my eyes.