The words tasted like dry paper in my mouth.

“I shouldn’t have questioned you like that at dinner,” I said.

He stood by the edge of the bed for a long time.

“It hurts me, Claire,” he said.

He sat down next to me, leaving exactly one foot of empty space between us on the mattress.

“I’m working twelve-hour days,” he said.

“I’m trying to rebuild the business cash flow after losing those two big contracts.”

He reached over and touched the gold chain on my neck.