Chapter 3

I didn't want to keep guessing like this, so I suggested going to see the show at the hotel.

Evan agreed right away. He even said that afterward, we could pick out a place for the vow renewal dinner together. I brought an invitation with me, planning to remind him of the exhibit date one more time.

Chloe was reworking part of her routine.

Her old injury meant she couldn't do the original turn anymore, but she didn't ask anyone to work around her. She simply showed Daniel the alternative she'd prepared and ran through it a few times until the transitions flowed with the music. Only then did she step aside to wipe away her sweat.

Evan waited for the production staff to approve the changes before confirming when the space would be available. He didn't make decisions for her, and she didn't come running to him about everything.

Watching that made me feel a little better.

Chloe really was working hard, and Evan really was helping someone who needed a chance. For three months, none of that had bothered me.

During a break, Chloe mentioned she'd applied to a dance company out of town and was waiting to hear back about her audition.

"Don't let the hotel's schedule hold you back," Evan told her. "If there's really a conflict, have the production manager adjust it."

Chloe thanked him, then asked about the changes the partners had requested last night.

Evan sighed. "I woke up a bunch of times last night. I kept worrying they'd agreed too quickly and would ask for more changes later."

I turned to look at him.

I'd asked him that morning, and he'd told me everything was fine.

Chloe knew the terms they'd originally asked for and remembered the changes they'd already made. She asked a couple of questions, and he took out his phone to show her the latest email.

"Now that they've changed things again, will that affect the plans?" I cut in.

"It's all taken care of. Don't worry."

Evan answered quickly, then turned back to Chloe to tell her what was really worrying him.

I stood right next to him and suddenly didn't know what to say.

Back when the hotel was just getting started, I didn't understand that stuff either. When he couldn't sleep, he'd shake me awake in the middle of the night and say, "Nora, talk to me for a while." He didn't need me to come up with any solutions. As long as I was willing to listen, he felt better.

Now I wanted to listen, but all he'd say was not to worry.

A crew member walked by, so I stepped aside. The two of them kept right on talking, and neither noticed I couldn't get a word in anymore.

I put the invitation I'd meant to show Evan back into my bag.

When we left, Chloe walked us out to the hallway and wished us a happy fifth anniversary with a smile.

"Honestly, I'm jealous. You two have been together so long."

"Thanks." I did my best to smile.

Chloe asked about the exhibit again, so we exchanged numbers, and I sent her the digital invitation.

Behind us, Daniel called her name. She took a couple of steps, then turned back to look at Evan.

"Can I talk to you about the audition tomorrow? I'm still kind of nervous."

"Sure."

Evan didn't hesitate. I slowly slid my arm out of his. For the first time, I didn't want to make excuses for them anymore.

When we got home, I stopped Evan.

"Why didn't you tell me this morning that you didn't sleep well last night?"

Evan thought about it. "It was already handled. Telling you would've just meant one more person worrying."

"But you were willing to tell Chloe."

"She's involved in the project. She knows what's going on."

I looked at him, and the hurt I'd been holding in the whole way home finally spilled over.

"I didn't go to the hotel to check up on your work. I wanted to know what's been keeping you so busy and why it's always on your mind. But when I ask, you say everything's fine. When she asks, you actually open up."

Evan reached out to hug me, but I didn't let him.

"Nora, aren't you overthinking this? She's going through a really hard time right now. If I can help a little, I'm going to."

"I know you want to help her. I'm not asking you to cancel her shows." My eyes burned. "But you can't keep telling me there's nothing to worry about while you pour your heart out to her. When she's upset, she can call you in the middle of the night, and all I can do is wait until you're done talking, until you've handled everything. That hurts me."

Evan went quiet.

I'd always been afraid of sounding too harsh. But if I didn't say something now, I'd only get more scared every time his phone rang.

"Keep doing your job as usual. But please stop those personal conversations after work, especially the late-night calls to comfort her. They really do bother me."

Evan looked at me and finally nodded.

"Okay. I'll hand the work back to the production team, and I'll be careful outside of work too."

I didn't feel better right away. I sat leaning against him for a long time before I opened the calendar we shared.

We already had a movie night planned for the weekend. I left it on the calendar, and I sent him the invitation to the restoration exhibit.