Knife grabbed the box and headed toward the door. He had a feeling that Ralf had never been in love with Sarah. He’d only ever liked her, maybe even cared about her. There was something about Ralf that he wasn’t liking, and it wasn’t just the fact Ralf was her ex. No, there was something unstable about Ralf, but Knife couldn’t figure it out.
Placing the box in the back of the car, Knife turned to see Sarah carrying one of her own. “Ralf is bringing down the last box. I’ve got to go and talk to the landlord, give him the key.”
“Do you want me to be with you?”
“Nah, can I ride back with you?”
“Sure. You did the right thing.”
“You heard all of that?”
“It was hard not to. You’ve been living in a shithole.”
Sarah laughed. “Believe it or not, it’s the best that I could afford in the city. Being a waitress doesn’t pay as well as a sex shop.”
“Being best friends with the Prez’s sister pays you well.”
“You think? Elena’s my key to the good life.”
“If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be standing here now.” Knife was pleased he’d gone out with his Prez to meet Sarah. He could never want to take that back.
“We wouldn’t.”
Nodding up at the apartment, he looked into Sarah’s eyes. “Do you feel better?”
“Not really. I’m starting to think that several years of a relationship has been based on a liking rather than love. Kind of sad really, but it makes sense. I always imagined it wouldn’t last.”
“That’s not the kind of way you should be thinking,” Knife said.
“Either way, we’ve separated, haven’t we? There’s no Ralf and me.”
“You don’t sound like it hurts anymore.”
“It doesn’t, which is why I said what I said to him. If you’re in love with someone, shouldn’t it have lasted a lot longer, the pain?”
Knife shrugged. “I’ve never been in love. I think you were in love with Ralf. It really did hurt you when he left.”
Sarah nodded. “Now, I find being around him a little uncomfortable. He’s seen me naked, and we’ve shared a great deal. I’m looking back now and wondering what I was thinking, feeling. I couldn’t even handle him giving me a ride on his bike. It’s all just crazy right now.”
“You’ll get there.” Knife reached out, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “Don’t forget, we’ve got a double date to go on.”
“How could I forget?”