Page 13 of Til Divorce Do Us Start

“A form?”

“I’ll base it on my bills—power and water will go up, and that’s what you’ll cover,” he says. “I’ll take care of everything else like I normally would. You should save the rest for a down payment on a new place.”

“Anything else?” I ask.

He takes a breath. “I like gardening. It makes sense. Do things right and plants thrive. I like taking something plain and turning it into something more. The analytical side of me works well with the hints of creative urges I have.”

Smiling slightly, I push my asparagus around my plate. It’s all I have left. “This is my first time having asparagus.”

He looks at me for a long time.

I shrug. “Seems rude to reject a meal my enemy made me while trying to be nice.”

“It would have been.”

But he takes my plate and devours the asparagus. I steal one stalk with my fingers and take it. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it!”

I finish the last stalk of asparagus and realize what Colin’s doing when he doesn’t leave after another episode. He’s making me comfortable. He doesn’t move my feet off my lap. The only move he makes is to put a blanket over me – one of the blankets I’ve put on the couch.

I suck in my bottom lip, forcing myself not to look at him too long. Ihatehim.

He’s an ass—cold, distant, always taking what he wants and pushing people away the second they stop being useful. I know that better than anyone. I was theuseless thinghe threw away without a second thought.

I hate Colin. I hate him for making me feel like a fool for believing we could’ve been more. For pulling the rug out from under me and letting me crash, alone. For slapping me in the face with every hard truth my naïve, hopeful younger self refused to see.

And worst of all—I hate him for still being in my head.

“There are ways to draw boundaries and remain professional. One of my managers has to deal with clients that hit on her. When they try a dirty joke she just keeps asking what they mean, stressing that she doesn’t understand, that they need to explain it since she doesn’t understand,” Colin says.

“So I should do that?” I ask.

“I’m offering to put you in touch with her. I don’t know how to deal with this, but I dislike that you’re used to it,” he says simply.

With that, Colin pats my legs and stands. “Use headphones tonight. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

I stare after him as he goes to his room, my brow furrowed. This isn’t the Colin I know.

Chapter 8 - Colin

“Really? Again, Colin???!! I made a revised bathroom schedule that will work for both of us,” Noelle starts. “You work from home today! Don’t tell me you couldn’t wait until I was done,” she argues, all but stomping her foot at me.

“You’re wasting more time arguing with me instead of getting ready, the bathroom is free now” I say as I head to the kitchen to start the coffee we share.

She huffs and locks herself in the bathroom.

After our so-called productive conversation last week, we’ve slowly slid right back into arguing. She picks at everything—relentless, sharp—like she’s not satisfied unless I’ve got three indisputable facts locked and loaded before I open my mouth.

And honestly, if she didn’t look so damn sexy in the mornings—with that sharp green stare, messy bedhead, and those tiny pajamas that cover nothing and tease everything—Imightbe generous enough to let her have the bathroom first.

But the day doesn’t feel like it’s started unless we have a spat.

Hostility rolls through the house, hanging tense around us. We’ve been quieter and tried to stick to our own space sinceshe came home upset that night, but that’s easier said than done. With coffee brewing, I check texts from my managers, updates from the small customer service team, and take notes on who actually needs to be called back.

I’m suddenly aware of Noelle’s perfume. Her hand moves across my back. “You have a whole office here, Colin, why do youhaveto be in the kitchen.”

“Funny enough, I live here,” I remind.

“Yeah, with plenty of square feet to stand in that aren’t the kitchen,” she hisses.

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