Page 83 of Monochrome Without You
Because for one reckless second, I almost leaned into him.
Corbin takes Tate, Deanna, and the snake home while I finish out the last hour at the coffee shop alone. A few people come in for coffee to go, but the rush has died down. Normally, I like thesteady hum of conversation and movement around me, but right now?
The solitude is nice.
It’squiet.
It’seasy.
Except, my thoughts aren’t.
Not really.
Because the only thing occupying my mind ishim.
Corbin.
I was jealous today.
I felt it coil inside me, hot and unwelcome, burning in my chest every time Pearla laughed a little too hard or leaned a little too close. I don’t usually see Corbin with the women he dates. He keeps them far away from me. But today was different.
He seemed more at ease with her. Comfortable.
Like he could just behimself.
And I hate that he can’t be that way with me anymore.
I wish he could be.
Seven o’clock rolls around, and I move through the closing routine like I’m on autopilot—lock the doors, flip the sign, tidy the counter. My hands work, but my mind is still tangled inhim.
The walk home is slow and crisp. I hug my arms around myself, trying to shake off the thought that’s been gnawing at me all day.
I’ve never spent Tate’s birthday apart from him. Not once. Getting only a few hours with him today feels…wrong.
But Corbin is his dad. And Deanna is in town. And maybe it’s always been a little unfair that I got all the birthdays before now.
Divorce is unfair.
So why didn’t I fight harder against it?
My breath catches when I see Corbin’s car parked along the curb in front of the bakery.
And then Tate is running for me, arms outstretched, his voice bubbling over with excitement.
“This was thebestbirthdayever!” he shouts. “Thank you so much for my snake!”
My chest tightens as I scoop him up, holding him close, breathing him in.
“That was all Dad,” I say, my gaze landing on Corbin.
He’s standing a few feet away, holding Tate’s overnight bag, his expression unreadable.
“What’s this?” I ask, nodding toward it.
Corbin shifts the bag in his grip. “I spent all day with Tate, and it’s his birthday. I thought you should at least get him tonight.”
The lump in my throat is impossible to swallow.
