Page 109 of Lunar Diamonds
“He will falter. Mark my words.”
Sooner would be better than later.
“I need to make some calls,” Alice said, leaving the room. “I’ll let you know if I find any information.”
“Can I get anyone some tea?” April asked.
We all fancied a cup.
“I’ll help you,” Ollie said.
“Me too!” Isaac responded, getting to his feet.
Ollie didn’t react.
Aaron left with Erin next, leaving me alone with Drake.
“Are you okay?” I asked after several awkward beats.
He didn’t look up. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”‘
“I don’t want to talk about it.” A cold, empty response.
“I’m here if you?—”
He sat forward again, still not making eye contact. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be.”
“I failed.” He shook his head. “Useless.”
“You’re not?—”
“Can we not?”
His curtness shocked me. “Okay.”
He did meet my eyes then. “Sorry. I just need some time. I know you can’t really give me space, and that’s my fault.”
“You want space?” I asked that as if we’d been married for twenty years and he’d just dropped a bombshell on me.
I had no right or reason to be hurt.
“So I can clear my head.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes, nearly as chilly as his tone. “I’ll keep trying to find the diamonds.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
“I’ll go where you go, of course,” he added. “But please ignore me.”
His words cut deep. “Drake… I… Talk to me.”
He shook his head. “Please do this for me. I know I’ve asked so much of you already, but I can’t do this right now.”
What could I do? Argue? Rage at him? Demand he start talking? Hug him? None of them would work. This was a guy trapped inside his own head. Lost. Frightened. Defeated. Ignoring him would be awful, but I also wanted to respect his right to his own feelings.
Damn.
