Chapter 3

Her voice, her touch, her very presence.

It all felt like a lie.

A performance.

Was this how she acted with David?

Was this the "concern" she showed him?

The thought made me sick.

I gently removed her arms.

"I' m busy tomorrow, Cassie."

"Busy? Doing what?"

Her tone sharpened. She didn' t like being rebuffed.

She probably thought I was playing hard to get.

Trying to make her jealous.

The irony was bitter.

"Just busy."

I turned back to my blueprints, a clear dismissal.

She huffed, then tried to regain her composure.

"Fine. We can have dinner in, then. I' ll cook your favorite."

Her attempt at normalcy was almost comical.

As if a home-cooked meal could erase months of betrayal.

I didn' t look up.

"Actually, Cassie," I said, my voice carefully neutral. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about. Something important."

She perked up. "What is it?"

"Remember the old Starlight Drive-In? Where we had our first date?"

A flicker of something in her eyes. Surprise? Nostalgia?

"Of course, I remember."

"I' m leaving for a new assignment soon. A long one. Before I go, I thought... maybe we could go there. One last time. Talk things through properly."

I made my voice sound hesitant, a little sad.

The master manipulator needed to believe she was still in control.

"An assignment? Where?"

"Nevada. It' s a big project."

"Nevada?" She looked thoughtful. "Well... I suppose we could. Talk things through."

"It would mean a lot to me, Cassie. For closure."

I needed her to agree. I needed her to promise.

"Promise me you' ll be there. Seven o' clock. Friday night. No excuses."

She hesitated for a moment.

"What about... you know. David might need me if Sammy..."

"Cassie," I said, my voice firm. "This is important. For us. Can you promise me this one evening? Uninterrupted?"

She sighed, a put-upon sound.

"Alright, Ethan. I promise. Seven o' clock. Friday. Starlight Drive-In."

She even managed a small, contrite smile.

Good. The hook was set.

"I' m tired," I said, standing up. "I' m going to bed."

I walked past her, not giving her a chance to say more.

In the bedroom, she tried again.

She reached for me, her hand on my arm.

"Eth..."

I pulled away.

"Don' t, Cassie."

The image of her with David, his hand on her back, flashed in my mind.

The thought of her touching me now was repulsive.

"What is wrong with you?" she snapped, her voice rising. "I' m trying here!"

"Goodnight, Cassie."

I turned my back to her, moving to the very edge of the king-sized bed.

The distance between us felt like a chasm.

And soon, it would be.

The next few days passed in a strange calm.

I continued my packing, my preparations.

Cassie watched me, a confused, wary look in her eyes.

She made small talk, tried to be pleasant.

I responded politely, minimally.

The act was wearing thin, for both of us.

Friday morning, I made breakfast.

Pancakes. Her favorite.

A small, calculated gesture.

"Morning," I said, placing a plate in front of her.

She looked surprised. "You made breakfast?"

"Thought I would."

She smiled, a genuine smile this time.

Hope flickered in her eyes.

She thinks I' m coming around, I thought. Good.

Let her believe that.

It would make tonight easier.

An hour before we were due to leave for the Starlight, her phone rang.

Right on cue.

It was David. His voice was frantic, laced with panic.

"Cassie! Oh, thank God! It' s Sammy! He fell out of a tree! I think he might have a concussion! He' s asking for you!"

I watched Cassie' s face.

The concern, the immediate shift in priority.

It was all so predictable.

So pathetic.

I already knew he' d been to David' s earlier.

She' d said she was going for a quick grocery run.

A lie.

She was probably "checking in" on poor, needy David and his accident-prone son.

"Oh, my God, David! Is he okay? I' ll be right there!"

She fumbled for her keys, her purse.

"Ethan, I... I' m so sorry. Sammy... I have to go."

"What about our plans, Cassie? You promised."

My voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

She winced.

"I know, I know. But this is an emergency! We can talk later, okay? After I make sure Sammy' s alright."

David' s voice, still on the line, grew more urgent.

"Please, Cassie, hurry! He keeps calling your name!"

She gave me a quick, apologetic glance.

"I' ll be back as soon as I can."

And then she was gone.

Again.

The familiar ache tried to surface.

But this time, I pushed it down.

Hard.

It was done.

She had made her choice.

Again.

And sealed her fate.

I didn' t bother getting ready for the Starlight.

I had other plans.

I grabbed my car keys.

I wasn' t going to the drive-in.

I was going to the county fair.

The one David had casually mentioned taking Sammy to, if he was "feeling up to it."

I made a vow then, a silent, cold promise to myself.

This woman, this life, it was over.

I would cut her out of my heart, my mind, my future.

Like excising a tumor.