s easy compliance, immedia

ne with the balcony. Use the new linens," she

d you," she commanded, "Cale's been traveling, he needs something l

ndless list of dislikes. His cooking was the one thing she never complained about, a silent truce in their cold war of a marriage. He remem

for the man who was the very rea

al line had

y shook his

froze. Kallie' s jaw dropped. Even Jorja, who had been fussing

ot once. He had been the epitome of ag

onfusion crossing her face.

ded look on his handsome face. "It's my fault, Jorja. I knew I s

ard the stairs. "I'll just go

ing his arm, her focus entirely on him. "It ha

, her voice now hard and accusator

. A clean white bandage was wrappe

I can't cook," he s

d wrapped it himself that morning, a prop for a scene he knew was in

roblem was, no one else in the villa knew how to cook. T

say so earlier? Now we're all

all go out to eat? Jorja, remember that little Italian place

stalgic smile touching her lips. "Oh,

a silent observer as Jorja and Cale reminisced about their gol

es with us, Arvin," Cale said, turning to him with a

either, Arvin thought, a sense of

ured, and closed his

distant way. The pliable softness she had taken for granted seemed to have hardened into something she couldn

ooked at his reflection. Dark circles hung under his eyes. He looked worn out, a stark contrast to Cale'

a little longer, he told him

already ordered, a spread of dishes clea

Jorja told the waiter, "but Cale can't have

w by heart. A bitter irony twisted in his gut. After five years

asked, turning to Arvin. It was the first time Jorja had

hing," Arvin said quiet

ghing at his jokes, placing the best pieces of calamari on his pl

e. An argument escalated into shouting. A man

!" he yelled, flinging the

l flew through the air, its trajectory

ve. Her reaction was pure instinct. She lunged, not towards him, her husb

a splash of searing heat and blinding pain