“Dana, let me—”
“No, thats just it.” She stepped back from him. “I wont let you, not again. Ive got a good life, all in all. It satisfies me. I dont want you in it. I dont want you here, Jordan. I cant have you here. So Im telling you to go while there are no hard feelings. Im telling you while we still have some chance of being friends.”
She moved past him quickly. “Im going to shower. Dont be here when I come out.”
HE was still in a daze when he walked into Flynns. Was this what shed felt like? he wondered. Was this what hed done to her? Had he left her feeling hollowed out and numb?
And what happened when the numbness passed? Was it pain, or anger, or both?
He wanted the anger. Christ, he wanted to find his anger.
Trailing the leash that Jordan forgot to unclip, Moe dashed back toward the kitchen, and Flynns cheerful greeting followed the sound of thumps.
“A boy and his dog.” Malory jogged down the stairs, morning fresh in khakis and a navy sweatshirt. “Youre back early this morning,” she began, “or Im running behind.” Then she stopped, stared at him. “What is it? Whats wrong?” A bubble of fear came into her voice. “Dana—”
“No, nothing. Shes fine.”
“But youre not. Come on. Lets go sit down.”
“No, I need to—”
“Sit down,” she repeated, and taking his arm, pulled him toward the kitchen.
Flynn was at the card table, a temporary measure in the evolving kitchen. The walls had been painted a strong teal blue that set off the golden wood of the new cabinets. The floor was stripped down in preparation for the hardwood Malory had selected. A piece of plywood sat on a stretch of base cabinets as a makeshift countertop.
Flynn was eating cereal, and from the guilty look on both his and his dogs faces, hed been sharing it with Moe.
“Hey, whats up? You want food, youve got about fifteen minutes before the crew gets here.”
“Sit down, Jordan. Ill get you some coffee.”
Flynn studied his friends face. “Whats the deal? You and Dana have a fight?”
“No, no fight. She just told me to go.”
“Go where?”
“Flynn.” Malory set a mug of coffee in front of Jordan and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Can you possibly be that dense?”
“Well, Jesus, give me a minute to catch up. If you werent fighting, why did she kick you out?”
“Because she didnt want me there.” “So you just left?” Flynn tossed out. “Without finding out what pissed her off?”
“She wasnt mad. If shed been mad I couldve handled her. Handled it. She just looked… tired, and sad. And finished.” He rubbed his hands over his face,. So it wasnt going to be anger after all, he realized. It was just pain.
“Whatever she felt, Jordan, whatevers behind it, you have to find out.” Malory gave his shoulder a quick shake. “Doesnt she mean anything to you?”
He shot her a look storming with emotions, and with a sigh she moved in to wrap her arms around him. “All right, then,” she murmured. “All right.”
“She means enough,” he managed, “that Im not going to put that look on her face again. She wants me gone, Ill go.”
“Men are such morons. Havent you considered that she wants you gone only because she already expects you to go?”
ZOE met Malory at the front door, then nudged her back out. “Ive been watching for you. Danas in there, painting your side. Somethings wrong. I can see it. But she wont talk about it.”
“She broke up with Jordan.”
“Oh. If theyve had a fight—”