CLAIRE

Roman read my message twice before looking up. "You're sure?"

I gave him a flat look. We were sitting in his car in the parking lot behind the coffee shop where we'd met earlier that week. I had asked him to meet me after my lawyer appointment, and for once

CLAIRE

Ethan set the wine bottle down slowly. "Okay."

He tried to smile. "That sounds serious."

"It is."

The smile disappeared.

The candles between us flickered like they had no idea they were about to become ridiculous. I looked at the flowers, then at Ethan.

"Before I

CLAIRE

The four of us sat around a table built for six.

The two empty chairs felt appropriate. Too much space. Not enough air.

Roman had chosen a restaurant with a private patio room at the back. Public enough that nobody could scream without embarrassing t