“Kodi, I need a place to stay.”
CHAPTER 1
GO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.
Blair
“I’m moving out,” I announce as I enter the living room.
“What?” my sister asks, looking at me from the couch, both shocked and concerned. “Did you finally get approved for the place down the hall?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I shake my head. “You know I’ve been searching for ten months now, give or take, to find a place in this same complex. It’s been impossible, Kodi!”
“I know.” She nods. “Even landing this spot myself was hard.”
“I know, and you’ve been so supportive, letting me and Reginald crash in your guest bedroom after everything with…Theodore.”
She holds up a hand. “We don’t speak that name here.”
My sister is my best friend and the person most protective of me, despite being a year younger. The night I found out what Theodore did, Kodi helped me pack as much as I could, including my dog, and left before he returned from work. It was impossible to take everything knowing I was moving into a single room. I sacrificed some of the luxuries as it simply didn’tmatter to me anymore. Those were all things that tied me to Theodore.
He didn’t even bother trying to leave work early to fix what he broke. Which only made me wonder how long it had been going on, which sent my mind spiraling wondering if there were more women and how I missed all the signs.
“And I’m denied everywhere because I don’t have verifiable income,” I continue, taking a seat on the couch. “There’s enough money in my bank account to buy the damn building, but without that steady income on paper, they don’t give a shit.”
“That’s San Francisco for you,” Kodi says.
The divorce did a number on Theodore’s bank account. I didn’t want a dime from him, but the courts ruled our penthouse in my name due to the nature of the divorce. A divorce that happened rather quickly, thanks to the fact he didn’t try to contest it, and I didn’t ask for anything. The only thing he begged to buy was our penthouse because there wasn’t another one like ours available anywhere in the city. His only other option was a home in the suburbs, but he refused to travel into the city every day for work. He shocked me when he offered me more than double what it was worth.
I didn’t—and still don’t—feel guilty for a second selling it to him at that ridiculous price. Mostly due to the fact that he didn’t put up a fight. He didn’t beg for me to stay, only wanted his fancy place to live.
So no, I wasn’t feeling guilty. Not after what he’d put me through.
“Exactly,” I say before looking down at Reginald who jumps to sit next to me, resting his paws on my lap. “You’re going to kill me, but I’m moving out of state.”
“What?” Kodi jumps up from the couch. “You mean, like, just across the border, right?”
“Well…not exactly.” I bite the inside of my cheek and force a smile to ease the blow.
“You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking,” she begs.
I look up and give her a knowing glare. “I want out, Kodi. You know this is what I need to do.”
Her face falls, telling me she understands why.
“You know I haven’t been able to go to the grocery store without having eyes on me,” I say, feeling the heaviness fill my chest of everything that’s happened. “I’ve been known for one thing, and that’s being the mayor’s wife.”
“You were so much more than that.”
I shake my head. “Then tell me why I can’t leave the house without side glances and people whispering in their friends’ ears when I walk by. They think I can’t hear them, but I’ve heard mumbles of them saying, ‘Oh, there’s the mayor’s ex-wife. He cheated on her. Poor thing.’”
None of it’s a lie.
It’s the sole reason why I have yet to actively seek employment.
“And do you remember that one time I tried to get back into running after letting my sneakers collect dust?” I continue.
“Yeah,” Kodi draws out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
