Chapter 18: The Parking Garage

Jasper's POV

The hotel's parking garage was three levels underground and nearly empty.

My SUV sat on the lowest floor, under a buzzing light.

I had left the ballroom by the service stairs, with Heath shouting my name behind me.

"Go," he had said at last. "I'll deal with the press. Go, you idiot."

My hands were still shaking when I reached the car.

I heard heels on concrete.

I knew the walk.

"Jasper."

Sabine stood between two pillars with her coat over her arm.

She had taken out every pin, and her dark hair hung loose to her shoulders.

I had not seen it down in two years.

"I'm not going to ask for anything," she said.

"Good."

"I came to say one thing, and then I'll leave you alone."

I put my keys back in my pocket.

"Say it."

"I saw you at the foot of the stage. I watched you not look away while I said it all."

"I heard it."

"I don't want you to come home. I don't want you to forgive me tonight, or this year."

She held out her left hand.

Her wedding ring sat in the middle of her palm.

"I took it off in the ballroom," she said. "It doesn't mean anything to give it back. I wanted to be the one who did it."

I did not take it.

"You can keep it," I said. "Sell it. Put it in a drawer."

"Jasper."

"Sabine, listen to me. No."

She nodded slowly.

"I'm not saying it to hurt you. I'm saying it so there's no doubt."

"I understand."

"You told every person in that room the truth tonight. That counts for something. I saw it."

"I know it doesn't change anything."

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