Page 36 of The Words of Us

I nod, feeling the sting of his words but knowing he’s right. “I don’t want to lose her, Glass. She’s everything I didn’t think I could have.”

“Then don’t lose her,” he says simply. “Fight for her. Show her that you’re willing to be honest, even if it’s messy and painful. You can’t control how she reacts, but at least you’ll know you gave it your all.”

I look at the divorce papers again, the final piece of a chapter that’s haunted me for too long. Glass is right. If I want a future with Evie, I have to confront the past, not just run from it. I have to be willing to stand still, to be seen, even when it hurts.

I pick up my phone, staring at Evie’s name in my contacts, my thumb hovering over the call button. I’m terrified, but I know I have to try. I have to tell her everything and hope that it’s not too late.

“Thanks, Glass,” I say, my voice steadier now, filled with a quiet resolve. “I’m going to make this right. I have to.”

He raises his glass in a mock toast, his smile warm and encouraging. “You’ve got this, Sash. Now go get your girl.”

I nod, my heart pounding with fear and determination. I don’t know if Evie will forgive me, but I know one thing: I’m done running. It’s time to fight for the life I want, the one I deserve. And that starts with facing Evie. No more secrets, no more lies. Just the truth, however messy it may be.

19

EVIE

Ihaven’t been able to shake the hollow feeling that’s been gnawing at me since last night. The bookstore is supposed to be my sanctuary, but this morning, it feels more like a prison. I’ve been here for hours already, but I can’t remember a single thing I’ve done. There’s a pile of books to shelve, but they just sit in a messy stack by the counter. My hands move automatically, straightening things here and there, but nothing feels real. Not after last night. Not after whathesaid.

I keep replaying his words in my head, over and over.I’m her husband.It’s like a hammer, each repetition driving a nail deeper into my heart. How could she not tell me? How could she keep something like that hidden from me? I didn’t even know she was bisexual. Or straight? Or whatever she identifies as. Am I her first relationship with a woman?

Not that it matters, really. But I thought I knew her. I knew she had secrets, sure, and I never wanted to pry. But I never ever suspected a husband.

I glance around the store, trying to focus on the familiar surroundings, hoping the comfort of these walls will pull me out of this fog. The smell of old paper, the quiet murmur ofthe city outside—it’s usually enough to settle me, to remind me that everything will be okay. But today, it feels distant, like I’m disconnected from the life I’ve built here.

The bell above the door rings, breaking the silence. I look up and see Kenneth strolling in, his usual bright smile in place as he waves at me from across the store. He’s carrying two cups of coffee, and the sight of him with those ridiculous pink-framed glasses perched on his nose makes me want to cry for some reason.

“Morning, boss,” he says cheerfully, crossing the room in a few long strides. “I brought caffeine. Figured you might need it after staying late last night.”

I manage a weak smile, though it feels more like a grimace. “Thanks, Kenneth. I...I do need it.” My voice sounds fragile, thin.

He sets the coffee down in front of me and leans against the counter, his eyes narrowing as he studies me. “Okay, what’s going on? You look like you haven’t slept in weeks. And I mean more than the usual ‘I’m running a bookstore and never have time to rest’ look.”

I laugh, but it’s humorless, barely a sound. “I didn’t sleep much, no.”

He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to say more, but I can’t. Not yet. The words are stuck, lodged somewhere between my chest and my throat. I take a long sip of the coffee, hoping the warmth will soothe the ache inside me, but it doesn’t.

Kenneth doesn’t move, just stays there, leaning on the counter like he’s got all the time in the world. He’s not the pushy type, but he knows when something’s wrong. It’s one of the reasons I hired him. He’s good with people, good with me.

“Evie,” he says, his voice soft but insistent. “What’s going on? You’ve got that look like you’re about to either break down or throw a book at someone’s head.”

I exhale sharply, setting the cup down with a thud. “It’s Sasha.”

Kenneth’s expression shifts, his teasing smile fading as concern takes over. “What happened? Did you guys have a fight?”

I shake my head, feeling the sting of tears at the edges of my vision. “No, not exactly. She...she’s been hiding something from me. Something big.”

He straightens, folding his arms across his chest as he listens, giving me the space to find the words.

“She is married,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “She never told me. Her husband—ex-husband, whatever he is—he showed up last night. At the restaurant. And he told me.”

Kenneth’s eyes widens. “Wait, what? Sasha’s married?”

“I mean I don’t think they are still together. She spends all her time with me. But clearly they were,” I say, feeling the bitterness creep into my voice. “She didn’t bother to tell me that part. He just dropped it like a bomb, right in front of me. And she just stood there, like...like she was waiting for the world to fall apart.”

Kenneth runs a hand through his hair, clearly trying to process what I’ve just told him. “Damn, Evie. That’s a lot.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yeah, it is. And I don’t know what to do with it. I feel like I don’t even know her. Like everything we’ve had is built on a lie.”

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