Your Dream Girl Can Have You

"It's too dark for Chloe to take a cab alone. I'll drive her home."

Without a glance at me, Hiram took Chloe's hand and led her to the passenger seat.

She glanced back with a sweet smile. "Sorry, Emma. You'll have to find your own ride."

I nodded. "It's fine. Go ahead."

The door shut, the engine started, and the taillights vanished into the night.

The wind stung my face. I pulled my coat tighter and waited by the road for fifteen minutes before finally getting a cab.

The driver noticed me shivering. "Why didn't your boyfriend drive you home? It's freezing out."

"He was taking someone else home," I said calmly.

He paused, then dropped it.

Back at the apartment, I sat by the door, changed my shoes, and called the hotel.

"Thank you for calling The Wren."

"This is Emma Erven. My wedding's booked for next week. I'd like to cancel the ceremony and reception."

A brief silence. "Ms. Erven, with only a week to go, your deposit is nonrefundable."

"I know. Keep it. Just cancel everything."

"Of course. May I ask why?"

I smiled a little. "I don't want to marry him anymore."

At eleven thirty, the lock turned.

Hiram walked in smelling of sickly sweet perfume. Chloe's.

He paused when he saw me at my computer. "Still up?"

"Putting my portfolio together."

He figured I was still sulking and tossed his jacket on the couch.

"Quit making such a big deal. The wedding's next week. Let the ring thing go."

He went into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed, still dressed.

I shut down my computer, showered, and slept on the couch.

At seven the next morning, Hiram was still asleep.

I slipped into the study and pulled up five years of transfers and bills for our shared expenses.

I didn't count every cent. I exported what I could find and saved it in an encrypted folder.

Then I found three well-known design firms hiring in Bayport and sent each my portfolio and résumé.

Half an hour later, Haven Design emailed back with a video interview invite for the day after tomorrow.

I closed my email and shut my laptop.

As I left the study, Hiram came out of the bedroom.

"Why are you up so early?"

"I have project drawings to finish."

He nodded and went to the kitchen for water, then turned back. "Oh, Chloe's back in the States and needs a place.

"I told her she could stay at the old apartment.

"Tidy it up when you get a chance."

He said it like it was a given. I felt nothing.

"Okay."

He must've thought I'd caved again. He smiled and ruffled my hair. "That's more like it. Be good."

I didn't pull away or say anything.

After he left, I called a moving company.

"Hi, I'm moving out of town. Do you have any openings this weekend?"

"We do. How much stuff?"

I looked around the place I'd called home for three years.

"Not much. Just my things."

I hung up and stood on the balcony, watching Hiram's car ease out of the complex.

The sun was bright, but I'd gone cold inside long ago.

'Hiram, isn't this what you wanted?

'You can have it.'