“So, you’re telling me I should go to more parties?”
“Work smart, not hard. But yeah, you should also have a life outside of academics.”
Dean’s expression turned thoughtful. “Thanks, Dad.”
“How’s the internship hunt going? You having any luck?”
“I’ve got a few things lined up, but we’ll see how it goes.” Dean stood up and wandered over to the kitchen. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back to my assignment before my professor reaches through the laptop and kills me.”
Ian gave him a sympathetic smile. “Don’t forget to bring up your plate when you’re done eating.”
Dean carried a container and a glass of iced tea down to the basement, and Ian heard the door click shut behind him. He was on the last sip of beer when the front door opened, and Lucy came in, her cheeks flush with color as she muttered to herself. She set a few bags down by the door and paused to kick off her shoes.
Ian brought his head to rest against the couch pillows. “I thought we were having dinner together today.”
“Yeah, I wanted to spend some time with the girls.”
“Okay.”
Lucy huffed and peeled off her jacket. “Stop saying it like that.”
Ian frowned and stood up. “I haven’t said anything.”
“Maybe that’s exactly the point. It’s what you’re not saying. I don’t have to be home every night, Ian. It’s not like I didn’t make dinner or clean the house, and you’re a grown-up. You can handle dinner alone.”
Ian approached her, both hands held up on either side of him. “Luce, calm down. I’m not trying to pick a fight. I was just concerned.”
“Don’t be,” Lucy snapped without meeting his gaze. “I’m not a child.”
Ian stopped a few feet away from her and frowned. “It sounds like you’re just trying to pick a fight.”
Lucy tossed her hair over her shoulders, and her hazel eyes were blazing when she looked up at him. “Fine, don’t talk to me, then.”
“Maybe I won’t.”
“Fine.”
Lucy stormed past him and hurried into their room. A moment later, he heard the shower running. He went to get another beer and was nursing it while he listened for her through the door. A few hours later, when he crept into the room, Lucy was fast asleep and curled up on her side.
Ian’s heart was thumping angrily as he lay in bed and looked up at the ceiling.
Lucy felt further and further away from him with each passing day, and he still had no idea how to make things better.Sleep eluded him as he tossed and turned, the hollow ache in his chest only growing as he wondered what to do.
Was Sophia wrong about them?
Was it too late for him and Lucy to salvage their marriage?
Chapter Three
Ian shifted from one side to the other and resisted the urge to look at his watch. “Thank you for agreeing to see us on such short notice, Dr. Singh.”
Dr. Singh peered at him from behind her spectacles and smiled. “I’m happy to help, Mr. Railings. I happened to have a cancellation today.”
Next to him, Lucy was scrolling through her phone and ignoring them both.
Dr. Singh crossed one pant-clad leg over the other and tugged on the edges of her button-down blouse. She flipped her notebook open, and kind brown eyes peered up at them.
“So, Mr. Railings, you’re the one who got in touch with me, so do you mind if I start by asking you a few questions?”
