Page 69 of Salvage Him

When he walked in, the staff went to work. The waiter lit the candles, and the chef fired up the burners. He moved withefficiency.

I had instructed them both to exit the room once dinner wasserved.

"What is all of this?" Paulasked.

"Thought you might be hungry." I motioned toward thetable.

"I am." He ran a hand down my side and skimmed over the smooth material of my white silk wrap dress. "Youlooknice."

I touched my eyes. I thought they looked puffy after my emotional outbursts of the last coupleofdays.

He kissed me on the neck, and I leaned into it. It made me feel weird. I had affection for this man because we had been through a lot. I hoped our breakup would be as much of a relief to him as it wastome.

Only one way tofindout.

We enjoyed dinner.Paul sat at the head of thetable.

I sat on hisright.

He asked me about thehouse.

I gave him an update on the progress; the house was his, too. He had spent a lot of money on the design. The conversation seemed strange, considering we would never live in ittogether.

"What's your next trip?" I asked, sipping my second glassofwine.

"Not sure yet. I have so many things up in the air right now. I need to take a moment and prioritize." He sipped his wine, peering at me overtherim.

I tookanothersip.

"How long are you staying in New York?" heasked.

I shook my head. "Long enough to get some things takencareof."

"Whatthings—?”

"I want a divorce." I blurted it out before he could finish hissentence.

I bit my lip and hid behind the bulbous wine glass. I downed the rest of it, set it on the table, and placed my hands onmylap.

He had not saidaword.

I glimpsed in hisdirection.

He adjusted the plate in frontofhim.

"Say something," Ipleaded.

He cleared his throat andblinked.

I didn't think he would get emotional about it. A lump formed in mychest.

"I don't know what to say." He downed the rest of his wine and leaned forward. "How long have you feltthisway?"

"Not long." I avertedmyeyes.

"Brooke."

I owed him the truth, at least partofit.