I picked at the edge of my pizza slice, avoiding Tessa’s gaze, while Chase twisted off beer caps and passed them around.
“You sure you need that?” Elliot asked, his voice careful but pointed. “How many did you have while you were cleaning today?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Chase’s head snapped to his brother. The flash of hurt in his eyes gutted me. Not because he didn’t deserve the question—but because he wanted to deserve better. “Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but none, jackass.”
An uncomfortable quiet settled over the empty room as we ate our pizza and drank our beers. When she was finished with her second slice, Tessa broke the silence. “Alrighty, we should probably head out. That supplier meeting’s at seven tomorrow morning.”
“Right,” Elliot said, his voice tight. “Some of us have work to do, businesses to run.”
Chase’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t take the bait. I focused on picking up napkins, pretending not to notice the tension crackling between the brothers.
“We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon to help you unpack the pod,” Tessa said to me. She glanced at Chase, worry evident in her eyes. “You sticking around?”
“Got nothing else going on tonight,” Chase said, deliberately not looking at his brother.
My stomach did that swooping thing again. Alone. With Chase. In my empty cottage.
I needed to put a little distance between us. Get my head on straight. “I actually booked a room at the resort tonight. Since, ya know, I don’t have a bed yet.”
Chase chuckled. “I’ll stay and help you lock up.”
I caught the pointed look Tessa gave Chase before gathering up the pizza box—a reprimand and a warning all wrapped up in one.
What would she think if she knew the truth? That I’d slept with Chase before my husband even knew I was leaving him? Did I even care?
Chapter Twenty
ELENA
Then, April 2024
TESSA
Why is Chase asking what happened with Peter?
ELENA
Probably because I wouldn’t tell him
But you can if he’s asking
TESSA
Okay… but why is he asking Elena?
ELENA
Idk Tessa. Maybe because he’s a good guy?
You guys give him an awfully hard time
TESSA
Woah okay
We’ve got a minor hiccup over here at the cidery site, so Chase is coming to help you unload the moving pod.
Just please be careful
