2
Blake’s Friend #1 brought him home. He was comple- tely drunk.
“Zoe, he’s all yours. I–I’m leaving!” He didn’t dare say another word and scurried away.
See? Even a doormat can grow thorns if it stands up
for itself just once. I had always held back for Blake’s
sake, because I respected him and his degenerate
friends.
“Water… water…” Blake mumbled, leaning heavily on
my shoulder.
I helped him into the bathroom, turned on the show-
er, and aimed the spray at his mouth. He drank gree-
dily, then slid down the wall and fell asleep on the
tiled floor.
I went back to our room and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of Blake roar-
ing. “Zoe! You just left me to sleep in the bathroom!
Ah–choo! Where’s breakfast? Where’s my hangover cure? Why is there nothing to eat?”
The doorbell rang. My takeout had arrived.
I walked past the fuming Blake and grabbed my food. “Don’t even look. I ordered for one. If you’re hungry,
order your own.”
Chapter 1
09:00
Blake’s chest heaved. He slapped the food out of my hands, sending it splattering across the floor. “You’ve been acting crazy since last night! Are you tired of this life or something?”
“Yes.”
He froze, seeing the calm on my face. A flicker of panic crossed his features, but it was gone as quickly as it came. “Are you trying to start a rebellion?”
“We’re a married couple, not a monarchy. It’s not a rebellion. It’s an irreconcilable difference.” I placed the printed divorce agreement in front of him. “Sign it.”
His laugh was cold. “For seven years, every penny in this house was earned by me. What have you contri- buted, besides cooking my meals and washing my clothes? And you have the nerve to ask for a divorce? Have you no shame? Your friend Phoebe is an Ivy League graduate. She’s got money, looks, and a care- er. Her husband wasn’t good enough for her, so she could trade up. You? What do you have without me? You want to be like her? You’re not worthy.
“Last night, everyone was just joking around. And you‘ re blowing it up into this? Have I ever mistreated you? Women your age are slaving away in corporate jobs, living in tiny apartments. You’re a pampered wife in a mansion with a luxury car. I don’t get it. What more could you possibly want? Do you know how many women are after me out there? How much temptation I face? But I’ve never cheated on you! Zoe, have things been too easy for you? Are you look- ing for trouble?”
I couldn’t
Chapter 1
09:00 C
I couldn’t remember the last time he had said so
much to me at once.
“Stop having a meltdown,” I said calmly. “Just sign it,
and we can go to the courthouse. It’s open by now. I‘
Il head over first. Don’t be late.”
In an argument, the one who talks the most loses. At
least, that’s how it was with us. It used to be me,
always apologizing, trying to smooth things over,
then making him dinner and running his bath.
Blake saw that his long speech had earned him noth-
ing but a flat, indifferent reply.
He snapped. “Fine! Have it your way! Zoe, don’t you
dare regret this! After the divorce, I’ll be a prime bac-
helor, and you’ll be a washed–up divorcée! We’ll see
who remarries first!”
