Chapter 3

3

I lunged out of bed and stood right in front of her. "You know exactly what I mean."

"I've told you a thousand times, Xavier and I are just friends! Why do you keep twisting things?"

"And my father's death wasn't my fault. I know he was good to you, but people get old and die. It's natural. You need to get over it!"

"Don't take your grief out on me!"

Selene pointed her finger at my nose, screaming. As she waved her arm, I caught the distinct scent of men's cologne.

The scent was a constant reminder that she had likely just been in another man's bed, tangled in his sheets.

I shoved her hand away, gritting my teeth. "I've never seen 'just friends' swap spit on a beach."

"Are you seriously still hung up on that? You're not mad about the funeral, you're just jealous."

"Caleb, you're almost thirty. Grow the hell up."

"Try being more like Xavier. Try being mature!"

"That's hilarious. What am I supposed to learn from a homewrecker? How to seduce someone else's wife, or how to roll around in bed with a guy while your father is being buried?"

Slap!

Selene's palm struck my face.

The room went deathly quiet.

I touched my stinging cheek. I didn't want to fight anymore.

"Now that Arthur is gone, let's just get a divorce," I said quietly.

Selene froze. She looked at me with total disbelief. Finally, her tone softened.

"Dad just passed away. Stop acting out."

I let out a heavy cough. Before I could speak, her cold hand touched my forehead.

"Why are you so hot?"

She actually looked worried. Regardless of my resistance, she draped my arm over her shoulder.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

I wanted to refuse, but my head was too heavy. I couldn't push her away.

She dragged me into the passenger seat of her car.

While she was driving, I reached down to adjust the seat angle.

My fingers brushed against something cold and metallic.

I pulled it out. It was a watch.

Xavier's watch. I had seen it in one of his posts.

Selene glanced over. Noticing my expression, she quickly said, "He probably dropped it the last time he hitched a ride."

I said nothing and set the watch aside.

People don't usually just drop personal items like that.

There were only two possibilities. Either Xavier did it on purpose, or they were doing something in this car that required him to take it off.

I didn't want to dig into either.

Just as I closed my eyes to rest, Selene's phone rang.

It was connected to the car's Bluetooth. The name "Xavier" flashed across the screen in big letters.

"Hey babe, is that loser husband of yours keeping you on a leash? You free tonight? Let's go out."

Selene immediately disconnected the Bluetooth. She gave me a nervous sideways glance.

"He's right here next to me," she said into the phone.