Page 125 of The Temptation of Truth

“Sure.”

She walks toward the door without even looking at or acknowledging Sav. In fact, the room seems to be filled with an eerie, tense energy that I didn’t notice at first, and I’m relieved to see Mabel heading into the hallway.

I follow her, but before I step out of the room, I look to Sav once more and raise my hand in an awkward wave.

“Do the good tonight.” I cringe, because that didn’t come out at all how I wanted it to. “I mean good luck tonight. Or break a leg? I hope it goes well. I mean that.”

Her brows rise in amusement, and she gives me one of thoseSav Lovelesssmirks.

“You, too.”

I have no idea what she means by that.

You, too?

Why would I need good luck? What does she hope goes well for me? Does she know something I don’t?

My brain attempts to go down a side quest spiral, but then Mabel is halting in front of a totally different room, so I follow her inside and let her shut the door behind us.

“What’s up?”

Her voice is soft, and her tone is light, but I can still see the tense set to her shoulders and jaw. It gives me pause. I don’t want to unload on her if she’s already dealing with something,and suddenly my whole center shifts. I’m no longer worried about me. I’m concerned for her.

I shake my head. “Is everything okay? Did something happen with your birth mom? You seem stressed. We can talk about that first if you want.”

It’s like watching a balloon deflate slowly, the way the tension bleeds from her body, and she exhales as if my words have relieved her of something heavy. Then she smiles. It’s timid and tired, but it feels like a hug, and brings a matching smile to my face.

“Thank you for that,” she says. “That really means a lot. I’m okay, though. Everything is fine with my birth mom. Nothing new. Tell me what you wanted to talk about. That’s more important to me right now.”

I scan her face, but I find no lie there, so I take a deep breath and push forward.

“Right. Well, I just wanted to...I think that I’m going to...No, IknowI am. I know. I know that I am going to...”

I start to fumble over myself, so I stop, close my eyes, and collect my thoughts. I inhale slowly, then let the confession be carried on my exhale.

“I’m going to tell Brady that I don’t want to have a baby.”

The room goes eerily still. I can’t even hear breathing. When I open my eyes, I find Mabel staring at me, lips parted as if on a silent gasp.

“You are?” she whispers finally, and I nod.

“Yeah. And...”

I dart my tongue out to wet my now parched lips.

“And I’m going to tell him that I want a divorce.”

Her expression shifts, and for the first time in a while, I can’t read her. All emotion leaves her face until she’s just a blank canvas. My heart starts to race.

“Mabel?”

She blinks several times, and then nods twice before whispering, “Why?”

I shake my head. “What? What do you mean why?”

“Whyare you going to do that?”

Still no discernable tone. Still no readable expression. She’s flat, blank, and cold, and in response, I start to ramble.