Page 265 of Mountain Grump

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In two weeks…

The paper shakes as I hold it in one hand while I press the other to my mouth.

If I found this letter in two weeks, after the deadline, and I told him then…

If I found this letter in six months and nothing between us had changed…

If the deadline had come and gone and Ethan still… if he still acted like he loved me… Maybe I could believe him.

But I didn’t find it later.

I found it now.

And I can’t pretend that I didn’t.

I can’t pretend to be okay for two weeks, just to see if he changes.

Iwon’tpretend for two weeks, waiting for him to break my heart.

So, I have to go.

With numb limbs, I climb to my feet.

The paper crinkles in my grip as I pick up my backpack.

And I focus on breathing as I walk out the door.

Chapter 146

Ethan

I scrubthe towel over my hair one last time, then pull a clean pair of boxer briefs on.

I’m clean. My stomach is full. And I’m ready to get Tilda naked.

“Wife.” I step out into the hall.

I was hoping Tilda would be waiting for me on my bed, but I don’t mind throwing her over my shoulder.

She doesn’t call back.

It’s quiet.

I stop when I reach the front of the house.

And I can see that it’s empty.

I turn back around, but I can see the door to the second bathroom from here. And it’s open.

“Tilda?” I walk through the kitchen and look out the glass door onto the back deck.

Empty.

“Starlight, where are you?”

Nerves start to dance over my skin.

Where could she be?

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