Page 52 of So Wrong It's Right

He’s not going to.

I turn slowly and walk toward the door calmly, knowing the moment that Perry and Tru are behind me. They will keep me upright.

“It’s okay,” I tell them. “I knew it was coming. It’s part of our plan. I’m okay.”

Perry hooks her arm in mine. “We got this. Lizzo and Haagen-Dazs on the way. Just hold on.” We get to the gift table by the exit. “And don’t you dare look back.”

Chapter Twenty

Christopher

Monday, all the starsare back in place, but nothing shines.

I’m feeling lower than I’ve ever felt and missing something I never wanted. I get a call from Dr. Anderson. Good news, everything is on schedule...her father is coming here to live with her, so I’m free to go back to the city after we close. She’ll be rolling into town in another hour or two.

It should be good news. Living in Brazen Bay now is out of the question.

I can’t believe I let myself fall in love with someone who clearly didn’t want me. Again.

It’s better this way. She’ll move on. Find someone who doesn’t try to take down her stars.

When I get home to my apartment in Seattle that evening, my mother is just leaving after having watered my plants. She follows me back into my place. The air is stale, but my mail is stacked neatly on the kitchen counter. My plants are thriving. And well, that’s really it. That’s how easily I can walk out of my life for weeks at a time.

“Thanks for taking care of things here, Mom.”

She looks me over in that way that mothers do. “What’s wrong, son?”

Nothing. Everything.

“Do you want tea?”

She shakes her head. “You’re troubled by something.”

I suppose that is one way to describe it. “How did you and Dad make your marriage work?”

“What do you mean?” She sits down on the tan sofa. That’s on the tan carpet. In the room with tan walls. Damn, everything is so neutral. Not just my apartment. My life. Nothing goes forward or backward. I’m just idling through it.

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