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“Why me? Why now?”

Pulling away, Katherine looked into Matthew’s eyes and found herself mesmerized by tiny flecks of amber she’d never noticed before.

“I don’t understand.”

“All this time, I wasn’t sure you even liked me, let alone trusted me.”

Katherine thought about how she’d acted that night at the diner and all the Friday nights they’d been at Grief Group together. Then she remembered feeling like he wouldn’t let himself be happy around her.

“Well, I didn’t think you liked me after you joined Grief Group,” she said, sinking back into the comforting warmth of his chest. Between the whisky and this wonderful-smelling man, Katherine was losing herself in the euphoria of being in his arms. “And for the record, I did like you. I’vealwaysliked you.”

Matthew chuckled. “I’ve always liked you too.”

“Wait…” Katherine’s head snapped to attention as she remembered that the night at the diner, Matthew was still married to Julia. “We can’t do this.”

She tried to pull away, but Matthew stopped her.

“Don’t leave.”

“I wasn’t leaving. I just need to get off your lap.”

“Why?”

Katherine’s gaze fell to the floor. Her stomach twisted, and for a brief moment, she thought she’d be sick. She couldn’t possibly explain to Matthew the guilt she was feeling.

“Tell me why you don’t want me to hold you anymore.”

Then Matthew waited. He wasn’t about to let her escape, even to her own chair, without an explanation.

“Katie…” he said gently. “What just happened? Please tell me why you can’t sit with me. Don’t you like it when we hold each other?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Tears brightened Matthew’s eyes, and his voice wavered with frustration. “Don’t you think this has been confusing for me too?”

“I’m sorry. That’s not what I want.”

“I know. And again, you don’t need to apologize. I feel conflicted about it, too,” he admitted. “But there are some things you don’t know about Julia and me.”

“Then tell me,” she pleaded, getting to her feet. “Help me to understand all of this without feeling like I’m the worst person ever.”

Matthew’s courage faltered. He’d never told anyone what he knew about Julia and what was going on in her life. Secrets he’d kept locked away without even her ever knowing that he’d kept them.

“Julia didn’t love me because she loved someone else,” he began. “At least, I assume that she loved him because she sure as hell didn’t lovemeanymore.”

“There was someone else in her life?” Katherine looked disgusted. “But you’re a great guy. And Libby’s so wonderful. Julia wouldn’t throw that away for someone else. Would she?”

“Come on, Katie, you said yourself you heard the way she talked to me. You think that’s how a woman should treat her man?”

Matthew reached for Katherine’s drink and polished off the rest of it before reaching for his own. Looking into his glass, he stared at the liquid as a pained smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Funny how this stuff can make you say things. Things you promised yourself you’d never share with another living soul.”

Stopping him before he emptied the glass, Katherine sat back down and urged Matthew to keep talking.

“Julia was having an affair.”

“And you’re sure about that?” she asked, even though she knew by the look on his face that it must be true. “Did you know who he was?”