able. She walked into the living room, where a small, elegantly wrapped box sat on the coff

m and deliberate, and placed it back in

pen, and Preston walked in, bringing with him the smell of salt,

uch and his smile was wide,

tly, a small, almost imperceptible movement that w

learly expected her to be waiting by the door, r

voice even and devoid o

disbelieving laugh. "Done? What is this, some new g

other one of her little moods he wo

t ring from her finger, and placed it on the glass surface of the coffee ta

said. "I'll have my thing

t the glass finally wiped the smirk

rip surprisingly strong. "You're throwing thi

p. She looked him directly in the eye, her own gaze cold

physical slap. His pup

from confusion to fury. "That idi

r at being caught. The last flick

to one of condescending placation. "You can't be this dramatic.

other woman, a tactic he'd used a hundred ti

nd walked toward the entryway, picking up her purse and the light

more than any tantrum could have. As she reached for the doorknob,

ing across the screen. "You think you c

ns. He had forwarded her the contact cards of sev

of them will be a better fit. Oh, wait. I forgot. A woman

of love and support, reduced to a transaction

d, liberating emptiness. She smiled, a real smile, for the first time that nigh

d his name, pressed "Block this Caller," and then, with

m one last time. "G

oking back, leaving him standing alone in the a