Little Secrets(45)

He pays for all their hotel stays, almost all their meals; he paid for her flight to New York and the Hamilton tickets and a shopping spree at Bloomingdale’s, where he bought her a Dolce & Gabbana bag that cost twenty-two hundred dollars. Two thousand two hundred. He’d tried to convince her to choose the colorful one that she was drawn to, but ultimately common sense prevailed and she chose the one in black, knowing she might never have another bag as nice as this one and it needed to go with everything.

“Are you sure?” Kenzie had asked him, clutching his arm at the cash register while the sales consultant widened her smile to hide her smirk. She’d seen this scenario before, no doubt.

“I’m sure.” Derek handed over his credit card. “You want the flowered one, too?”

“Florals are hot right now,” the sales lady piped in, dialing up her smile by another fifty watts.

“No.” Kenzie laughed. “We’re good.”

She caught the sales consultant’s glance and read the unspoken message written all over the woman’s judgy face: Honey, don’t be an idiot. Get the floral one, too. Little did the poor woman know. All she saw was Kenzie’s pink hair and giggles, but Kenzie didn’t need another Dolce & Gabbana. She was playing the long game.

And five thousand dollars would be falling far short of the goal line. Five thousand doesn’t even cover two months of her mom’s care, and she sure as shit didn’t spend six months sleeping with a married man only to end up with a measly five thousand.

She needs to know what this means. She grabs her phone from the night stand and sends Derek a text.

Hey babe, you left something here?

He doesn’t reply. He’s probably driving, so she heads into the bathroom to pee before heading down to the restaurant. Maybe it’s just a gift. Kenzie’s been stressed about money lately—when isn’t she?—and maybe he just wants to help out.

Maybe it’s not over yet.

It’s not until she’s at the restaurant and her eggs and avocado toast have been brought to the table that he replies. She imagines he’s just pulled into the office parking lot.

It’s all for you. I didn’t want to say anything while I was there, because I knew you probably wouldn’t take it.

Ha. As if.

But fine, she can play the game. She’s going to play it off like it’s nothing, no big deal. You’re very sweet. But I’m ok! I’ll give it back to you when I see you next time.

His reply is quick. There isn’t going to be a next time, he texts. This is goodbye. I’m sorry to do it like this, but I can’t do this anymore. Thank you for a wonderful time, and I wish you all the best, Kenzie.

Her hands are shaking so hard, she almost drops her phone. Coward. He’s ending it like this? Over text? With five thousand dollars to, what, soothe hurt feelings and make the breakup easier? For who? Him?

And what part of him thinks he can buy his way out of this with only five grand? Paul couldn’t, and neither can Derek. Nope. No way. Not after half a year of investing her time and energy into a man who’s the emotional equivalent of a black hole.

She forces herself to take several deep breaths. What she says next matters. She starts typing, her thumbs pounding hard on the glass of her Android.

Derek, please. I love you. Don’t do this. Talk to me.

He’s not going to buy his way out of this for so little cash, the sonofabitch.

She tries again. If you’re telling me you never want to see me again, and you really mean it, then fine. I’ll leave you alone. But Derek, I want you. I want to be with you. I need you.

You’re the worst thing for me, he replies.

Oh god. It’s over. She’s blown it.

Kenzie sits at the table in the restaurant as the server refills her water glass, thinking about the pile of money she stuffed into her D&G purse before she left the room. How did she not see this coming? An affair is all about the honeymoon stage, and she should have realized they were past it two months ago. That was right about the time he started getting quiet, and stopped wanting sex the minute they walked into their hotel room. When he started getting more critical, more moody, withdrawing.

She should have known, but she’d been too busy falling for him and starting to let herself think that maybe this was real. She had totally misjudged. And now it was over, and all she had to show for it was a bruised ego, a designer purse, and a small pile of cash.

And maybe a broken heart … if she allows herself to feel it.

Her phone pings in her hand, and she looks down. It’s Derek, and she has to read the words twice before they process. When they do, her whole body crumples in relief.

Forget everything I just said. I’m an asshole. Kenzie, forgive me. I don’t want this to end. I need you, too.

It’s not I love you, but it’s good enough. Jesus Christ. That was a close one.

She texts back. I’m not going anywhere. But please don’t scare me like that again. I don’t deserve that.

I won’t, he replies. And you’re absolutely right. I’m sorry. He sends her a heart emoji.

She sends one back, and as if on cue, her stomach rumbles. She puts down her phone and picks up her fork.

Time for breakfast. A girl’s gotta eat.





Chapter 14


Marin spent the entire night lying on top of the bedsheets she and Sal made love on. She didn’t sleep at all.