Chapter 3

3 My heart had turned into a block of lead.

I realized that the moment I hoped for an apology, I had already lost.

When I got home, I barely had my shoes off before my cat, Honey, came over to rub against my legs.

Honey was a stray Lydia and I had rescued when we first started dating.

She had followed us for three blocks. Lydia said it was a sign of good luck, so we took her in.

I sighed and picked the cat up.

My relationship with Lydia was a disaster, but Honey was still the same sweet girl.

As if she could feel my sadness, she purred and kneaded her paws against my chest.

The weight on my heart lifted just a little bit.

"Hungry, girl?" I whispered, scratching her behind the ears.

I was about to go to the kitchen to feed her when the front door opened.

Lydia was back.

When she saw me sitting on the couch with Honey, her face twisted in annoyance.

"Ugh, why is that cat on the sofa? I just bought those covers! What if she claws them?"

She marched over and grabbed Honey by the scruff of her neck, tossing her onto the floor.

The cat hit the hardwood with a dull thud. I jumped up, worried she was hurt.

That's when I noticed Caleb walking in behind her.

"Hey, Ben. I was just dropping Lydia off. I figured you probably hadn't eaten, so I brought some takeout."

He walked to the dining table and started unpacking bags like he owned the place.

The familiarity of it made my blood boil.