Page 69 of Salvage Him
When he walked in, the staff went to work. The waiter lit the candles, and the chef fired up the burners. He moved withefficiency.
I had instructed them both to exit the room once dinner wasserved.
"What is all of this?" Paulasked.
"Thought you might be hungry." I motioned toward thetable.
"I am." He ran a hand down my side and skimmed over the smooth material of my white silk wrap dress. "Youlooknice."
I touched my eyes. I thought they looked puffy after my emotional outbursts of the last coupleofdays.
He kissed me on the neck, and I leaned into it. It made me feel weird. I had affection for this man because we had been through a lot. I hoped our breakup would be as much of a relief to him as it wastome.
Only one way tofindout.
We enjoyed dinner.Paul sat at the head of thetable.
I sat on hisright.
He asked me about thehouse.
I gave him an update on the progress; the house was his, too. He had spent a lot of money on the design. The conversation seemed strange, considering we would never live in ittogether.
"What's your next trip?" I asked, sipping my second glassofwine.
"Not sure yet. I have so many things up in the air right now. I need to take a moment and prioritize." He sipped his wine, peering at me overtherim.
I tookanothersip.
"How long are you staying in New York?" heasked.
I shook my head. "Long enough to get some things takencareof."
"Whatthings—?”
"I want a divorce." I blurted it out before he could finish hissentence.
I bit my lip and hid behind the bulbous wine glass. I downed the rest of it, set it on the table, and placed my hands onmylap.
He had not saidaword.
I glimpsed in hisdirection.
He adjusted the plate in frontofhim.
"Say something," Ipleaded.
He cleared his throat andblinked.
I didn't think he would get emotional about it. A lump formed in mychest.
"I don't know what to say." He downed the rest of his wine and leaned forward. "How long have you feltthisway?"
"Not long." I avertedmyeyes.
"Brooke."
I owed him the truth, at least partofit.
