“Good,” I said, and I felt the calm settle over me like a coat that finally fit.

“Tell him January second works perfectly.”

Chapter 6 — Mistaking Silence for Surrender

For the next week, Damon mistook my quiet for a white flag, and he did what men like Damon always do with a victory they think they’ve won.

He got greedy with it.

He started issuing rules.

No more takeout.

No unnecessary shopping.