Chapter 15: The Real No

"She came home at four-ten," Willem said. "She walked past all three of us, said hello to the pretzels, and went up to the third floor."

"She said hello to the pretzels," Jax agreed.

"The door has been locked since," Sterne said. "She asked the housekeeper for a sandwich and a phone charger."

I looked up the stairwell.

Just a flight of stairs to her door.

She could have left by any exit in Manhattan, and she had chosen to go up instead.

"Leave her," I said. "She's just up the stairs. That's the most convenient enemy I've ever had."

"Bea."

"In the morning. Everyone sleep."

Jax picked up his guitar and left without a joke, which told me how tired he was.

Sterne squeezed my shoulder once and followed.

Willem stayed with the laptop under his arm.

"Can I walk you to your door?" he said. "It's three feet."

"It's four."

"I'm counting from the pretzels."

He walked me the four feet.

Then he did not go away, and I did not shut the door, and he stood in my bedroom doorway with his rumpled hoodie and his ears turning red.

"I need to ask you something," he said. "I've been trying to ask it for a week, and every time I try, Jax sings."

"Ask."

"Will you pick me?" He rubbed the paint under his thumbnail.

"Not instead of them. I want to be the only one you're with."

"I know the calendar says no. I'm asking anyway."

I had told Phillip the truth that afternoon, and it seemed unkind to start lying to the next man.

"No," I said.

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Husband Moved His Mistress In So I Invited My Three Lovers from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.