Chapter 3

I said nothing. I just stared at Zeke, waiting for an explanation.

My silence quickly got under his skin. As he pulled out a chair for Hailey, he said, "I had to pick her up, so I'm a little late. Sorry."

"Okay," I said flatly, lowering my eyes to the menu.

Zeke looked surprised. He probably expected me to make a scene, but I let it go without another word.

I raised a hand to get the server's attention. "I'll have the lunch special. Could I get water instead of the wine? Thank you."

Hailey suddenly leaned across the table and pointed at the menu, her voice playful.

"This dinner-for-two special looks amazing! Too bad Ruby can't eat seafood. But Zeke, we both love it. Why don't we split one?"

Then she turned to me.

"You don't mind, do you?"

Zeke frowned.

We had already fought over serving seafood at our wedding reception, and now Hailey wanted to order a meal for two with him. No matter how close they were, even he knew how inappropriate that looked.

"Hailey, maybe we shouldn't order…"

"Sure," I cut him off without looking up.

Zeke gave me an odd look. In the end, he still talked Hailey out of ordering it.

Throughout the meal, he kept glancing at me, waiting for some kind of reaction.

But I gave him none.

I wasn't pretending not to care. I truly didn't anymore.

Several times during lunch, Zeke looked like he wanted to say something, but Hailey's nonstop chatter cut him off every time.

I ate quietly while they talked about movies, work, and funny things that had happened recently. The easy way they talked reminded me of how Zeke and I had been seven years ago.

It wasn't until we were getting ready to leave that Zeke finally asked, "Ruby, what was the important thing you wanted to tell me?"

I wiped my mouth and picked up my purse.

"It's private. We can talk when we're alone."

Then I stood.

"Come on. You should get back to the office and rest before the afternoon."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Zeke went quiet. He gave me an awkward look.

"Um... Hailey's office is pretty far, and it's hard to get a cab around here. I need to drop her off first, so..."

I knew exactly what he was trying to say and held up my phone. "I already called a ride. It wasn't hard at all. You can take her."

Zeke looked guilty. He stepped closer and reached for my hand, probably hoping a few sweet words would smooth things over.

I moved out of reach.

"My ride's here."

I turned and headed for the door.

Zeke followed me a few steps. "I promise I'll leave work early today. We'll spend the evening together."

I nodded, choosing to believe him one last time.

When I got home, I took care of nearly everything I needed to do before leaving.

My suitcases stood neatly beside the front door, packed and ready to go. There was no way he could miss them.

At 5 p.m., the front door suddenly opened. It was Zeke.

I stared at him in surprise.

He normally didn't get off work until 5:30 p.m., which meant he had left early.

Did he really keep his promise and come home to spend time with me?