Page 77 of David's Chase

There’s not a hint of flattery in his voice.

He’s just stating a fact.

“You hooked up with Samantha because of that woman,’ I say, and he searches my eyes.

“Yeah… I did. And it was a mistake. And boy, did I pay for it?” he says with dark humor.

“She seems like a skilled collector.”

He laughs.

“She is good at that. And you know what? She wasn’t even hurt in the process. She was so used to cutting onerous deals that having me as her husband wasn't that much different.”

His smile fades as he continues.

“She gave me something when I was down. And bitter as I was, I accepted it because I wanted to prove to the world that I could step onto my soul and live in a world of soulless people… I was just like everybody else.”

A pang of emotion messes with his voice before he recollects himself and swiftly backs away from that.

It’s still a sensitive topic.

He still hurts because of it.

Swiftly, he makes a dismissive gesture.

“It doesn’t matter. Everybody gets what they deserve in the end,” he says in a dull voice.

“I hope that doesn’t apply to me, though,” I quickly comment, bringing his focus to me again.

He studies me with a tormented, longing look on his face like he’s about to decide my fate.

Either free me from himself or condemn me to a life of misery, and it's too late not to be affected by whatever he opts for.

14

LIZ

We leave the restaurant,lacking the answers that would make my life easier and his life a little better.

Meeting his ex-wife has been a setback.

And the timing of it couldn’t be worse.

He had just made peace with his past––and whatever that past had done to him––when Samantha reminded him of a time when he was trapped, and the memory of that event is now ablaze.

Trauma has a way of living forever, and its ghost is even more potent than the actual event.

But none of that transpires as we walk across the room. He locks my hand before leading me to the elevator.

“Where are we going?” I ask, watching him push the floor button.

“You’ll see.”

Soon, I realize we’re headed to the last floor.

Cold air wraps around my feet as we exit the elevator and enter the rooftop bar.

Oh. Spooky and nice.

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