on the freeway, heading north, in the opposite direction of his apartment. He didn't

hospital, some funny thing a patient said, or a new recipe she wanted to try. He'd usually just grunt in response

ead settling in his stomach as he pulled into his garage. He got out of the

as still on the counter, now covered in plastic wr

atic. She was trying to make a point, to make him feel

per, Maria, finishi

," she said, her eyes full o

zquez been back?" he aske

mall bag." Maria's gaze was knowing. She' d be

ay. "Well, you're finished f

walked through the rooms. Everything was neat, tidy, exactly as G

He grabbed his keys an

for him. "There he is! The newly single man

beer, the cold liquid doing lit

e?" Lee asked, his t

aid, shrugging. "She fi

r for three years?" Lee said it with a cyn

Dock snapped, more defe

I'm happy for you, man. You're finally done with the charade. Briann

said, forcin

. "A little too nice, you know? Like, Stepford wife nice. Always cooking,

hought of it that way. It w

anging the subject. He'd gotten the email from

en't married," Le

" Dock muttered. "Her wa

ound. "Sign them, send them back, and it's over. Clean break.

ed it to himself, a mantra he'd been chanting for

had drained from her eyes when he' d told her the truth. He thought of her quiet strength, her unwavering loya

ed, nudging him. "You lo

aid, draining his se

ll the usual bullshit. Dock just nodded along, his mind repla

eave, it was well past midnight. "Seriously, man,

e screaming at him. He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Gladys's contact. He want

No. This was what he

lled onto his side, facing the empty space next to him. A faint, swe

It wasn't just irritation anymore. It felt like loss. He

back. She