PART - III - ANGER - Chapter 2

(Dis)Agreement is the New TREND

CHAPTER 1/2

I sat at the lawyer’s office waiting for twenty minutes on a busy day. This was our first meeting at the lawyer's office and it was so unlike Taehyung to be late for anything. My lawyer, Mr. Jung leaned back in his chair clicking his pen open and closed and I was braiding the fringe on my purse.

I was wearing a denim button-down with black pants and a multi-colored South Western-looking sweater. It was big on me and stopped at my thighs with deep pockets. Since it was cool out I also wore a tan scarf around my neck in a wide loop and my hair was up with bangs and long strands down my neck.

I thought this would be the fast part. Divide our stuff (I didn’t intend to keep much), sign the divorce, and move on.

“Where is he?” I asked Mr. Jung.

“Probably just trying to show you how little this means to him. Don’t let it get to you.”

“You think he’s talking to his lawyer?”

“Naah, I think he will appear alone today. I got a call from him that he is here to discuss something.”

I noticed Mr. Jung was an old man with a dark brown suit on. He probably wasn’t the best, but I didn’t intend to take anything from Taehyung.

We heard an engine and looked out of the office through the white blinds that were openly lined up to see Taehyung pull into the lot. My heart did an urgent flip like I was excited and nervous to see him.

He got out with his sunglasses on and buttoned the front of his navy blue jacket as he walked inside with the confidence of a celebrity.

When I heard his voice in the hall I sat up straighter. He came in and locked eyes with me the minute he saw me.

I expected animosity, bitterness, even a little indifference since what happened a few days ago but he wasn’t looking at me like that. He was looking at me more like…he’d accepted a challenge that he humbly but surely knew he’d win.

What did he have up his sleeve?

“Mr. Kim,” Mr. Jung started. “Glad to see you finally made it.”

“Sorry,” he was still looking at me. “I had things to get in order.”

I looked down at the table to avoid his eyes. They were haunting me.

“Let’s start with the…condo…” Mr. Jung began.

Mr. Jung had filtered everything down. It was almost scary. What makes a marriage is love and trust and devotion, but in the eyes of the law, it looked more like things, property, vehicle, furniture.

They don’t put on paper how much of your heart the other person gets, or time, energy, love, hope, memories, or pain.

Just things.

“Now…” Taehyung looked up at me like he was dreading this next one and my mind put it together quick. My ring. Taehyung’s mother adored her engagement ring because she’d been very in love with his father. Not the stepdad Taehyung knew and loved in the divorce…the father he never met who passed away right after he was born.

Still, I cherished it because his mother trusted me with the thing and she felt safe knowing it was with me. Though he wasn’t close to his family his mother loved him too much.

I spun it on my finger under the table.

Mr. Jung continued, “The engagement ring is actually Mr. Kim’s property by—”

“No,” Taehyung said. I looked up to see he was still focused on me. “He can keep it.”

No! It belonged to Taehyung’s mother.

“Mr. Kim,” his lawyer kept his voice low, “the ring is an heirloom and Mr. Jeon wants to return it. If you release it into his possession there’s no getting it back. There’s also the chance you might want it back for—”

“I won’t marry again after this.” He nodded at me. “Mom would want you to keep it.”

I took an uncertain breath. He hadn’t even told Nonna yet.

“Thank you,” I said softly. He dragged his eyes away and waited while Mr. Jung wrote up the last of it.

“Where is your lawyer?”

“I wanted to know what were Jungkook’s terms, first.”

“But you need—”

“No.”

“I have some agreements I’d like to address, first.”

I frowned at him. “Agreements? Like what?”

Taehyung sat forward and spun his papers around. “I’m contesting the divorce.”

“You can’t, we just went through everything.”

“I still have to sign.”

“Why would you come here if you intended to contest?” Mr. Jung interfered.

 “So it will be easy if you still want this later.” Taehyung contradicted.

 “Later?” I asked, my face an epitome of confusion.

 “I have conditions to signing.” Taehyung avoided me and looked at Mr. Jung. His eyes held determination.

Mr. Jung looked up from the papers and raised a brow, “like what?”

“I want time.”

I shifted in the chair and narrowed my eyes. “Time for what?”

He smiled but it seemed smug, “Time to change your mind.” 

That smug bastard. He talked it out with his lawyer and now he want to drag the process.

My mouth dropped open but then he continued, “actually Jungkook, my terms aren’t unheard of. Mr. Jung, I only asks him to be open to doing a few minor things together as a last try—”

“—You can’t do that.” I looked at Mr. Jung, “he can’t right? I mean-?”

Mr. Jung opened his mouth in that paused way like he was trying to find a nicer way to say, ‘he just did.’

“He…it’s complicated. Mr. Kim could put the finalizing of this divorce on hold for a very, very, very long time.”

“How long?”

He looked around at the ceiling for a long long time before the words from his mouth fell like molten lava, “till kingdom come, Mr. Jeon.”

I looked at Taehyung and fought a helping of resentment. “You’re forcing us to stay married.”

“Not forever Kook.”

“How long?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time. I wanted this done before something happened to weaken my resolve… “Fcuk you,” I stood up and hurried toward the door.

“Mr. Jeon,” Mr. Jung stood. “What about-?”

“Well, what choice do I have?” I snapped back. “I guess I agree.” On my way past Taehyung, I let my purse whack him in the head but the imp only laughed.

!!~~~~!!

I was in the parking lot bent over mumbling curses to turn his d!ck green and unlocking my bike from the guard when Taehyung came up behind me. I didn’t know until my ass bumped into his far-too-close groin. 

I came up fast and spun on him. “You’re a d!ck.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that too. This time, it’s hopefully going to work for me, though.”

“I want this over with.”

“And it will be.” He reached down and unlocked my bike with ease. “Long as you comply.”

I folded my arms, “whatever you’re up to won’t work. I’m not giving you any more of myself to step on.”

“Then it’s time I give you something…if you still hate me you can step on it.”

“I never hated you.” I looked away and took my bike. “Whatever, so what’s this first condition?”

“Parents…” I groaned but he kept talking as I straddled my bike. “We have to tell her together. No calls. Just face to face.”

“Your mom is going to contrive ways to fix us and my mom is suddenly in love with you. That’s unfair.”

“Too bad cupcake, you’re in it for better or worse till I sign.”

I grumbled some more and kicked up my break.

He held my handlebars and hunched his back to make me look into his cobra eyes. “By the way, I just noticed you straddle bikes the way you used to straddle me.”

I looked up in total shock and tried to process what he just said but then he was walking toward his car.

“I’ll pick you up at four tomorrow to see Nonna.” He said over his shoulder.

I shook my head like it was filled with cobwebs.

Did he just come on to me?

!!~~~~!!

Something was different. The way Taehyung acted since yesterday at the law office was so altered. He picked me up at exactly four and I got in his car to see he still had my protection charm on his rearview mirror.

The ride to his mom’s was an hour and it was a Tuesday night so that meant Namjoon, Hyejin, and their one-year-old Gina would be there for dinner too.

“Are you cold?” he asked and I saw that I’d been holding myself.

“No.”

He was wearing a tight flannel shirt with the sleeves down to cover his tats. His body was so thick and muscular that it felt like he was swallowing the car and pulling me closer.

“So how are things with Yoongi?” I gave him a true, ‘don’t even start,’ look. 

And now he brings Yoongi into our conversation. I had to inhale deeply to calm my insides. Else I would definitely end up killing my husband.

“Come on, it’s no big deal. We’re getting divorced and you’re falling in love again—”

“I’m not in love.” 

Oops. Shit. That asshole just deliberately tripped me up.

He was smiling with his eyes on the road, “oh really?” he asked.

“Shut up.” I cross my hands over my chest and pout. Averting my face, I looked out at the passing apartments and trees. They were more interesting than the man sitting beside me. Toying with my emotions.

I caught him looking at me from the corner of his eyes. His gaze was trained on the area between my legs and I pulled my t-shirt a little too tight to cover my crotch.

I realized he was looking me up and down, assessing me. His gaze roamed over me like an X-ray machine. Inside out.

I was wearing three dangling rings in my ears, a cute little heart-shaped pendant in a gold chain and a lot of bracelets. He liked this look on me and called me Bohemian Rhapsody.

“You look amazing. My mom’s going to love it.”

 Hmm, a compliment. Aren’t we just a real winner?

His phone buzzed and I turned away to look out the window. He’d answer and the trip would go this way just like always, but then he didn’t answer and I looked back at him. “Wasn’t that important?”

“They’ll voicemail.”

Interesting.

We made it to his mom’s in one piece. No fights, no tuning one another out. When I went inside Hyejin hugged me with a crying seven-month-old worming around in her arms.

“Gina?” I asked.

“Yes,” she huffed, “man, please tell me you brought the gripe water.”

“It’s in my purse,” I said as Taehyung came up behind me. “I’ll go measure some out in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, you’re a savior, I forgot it at the house.”

I stepped around them but then heard them talking when I went around the corner.

“Give her over,” Taehyung demanded over the screaming. I stopped and peeked around to see them.

“She’s in a spit-up phase Taehyung.” Hyejin bounced harder with her knees to calm the baby. “I’d rather be the one to throw up on you.”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Who used to put Jack to sleep again?”

Jack was Hyejin’s brother Yugyeom’s son. Yugyeom and I didn’t talk for a long time. But Taehyung was very good with Yugyeom and his kids. He was a natural when it came pt pups.

“Don’t brag you probably bored him to sleep.”

“Stop being a bitch.”

Hyejin tried to kick his shin but he avoided her and I almost laughed. Then she slowed up to start handing our Niece to Taehyung. I didn’t need to see this.

Taehyung and the babies were like female catnip. All the strength, all the muscle, and all the height were so easily bridled around children. He was known in the family as the Baby Whisperer.

Here was why, even now he was soothing Gina, our Niece in his arms like it was a science. Easy swaying and soft but deep murmurs of ease and she was looking up at him in her sleeper like he was a movie she had to watch.

Hyejin offered him the burp cloth but he declined with a wave of his hand while keeping Gina’s eyes. The human heart is really dumb. This guy has played football with my heart for years now and at this moment, I’m finding him irresistible.

I went to the kitchen and tried to shake it when Nonna, Taehyung’s mother met me at the doorway of the kitchen.

“Hello, gorgeous!” She said and hugged me real tight. I love this woman. She’s a second mother because mine is greater. She’s a head shorter than me with thick brown but greying hair she wears in a ponytail and wide brown eyes. “I missed your face, sit down.”

I went to sit next to Namjoon at her super long cedar wood dining table. Her house looked like a log cabin but it was modern inside with very high windows in almost every room.

“I was supposed to make colic medicine but I think Taehyung is putting her to sleep,” I said.

Namjoon rubbed his face. “Thank God, because she was up all night and I don’t even know how we drove here.”

“So tell me what’s new sweetie. I haven’t seen you since forever.”

I snuck a look at Namjoon while she wasn’t looking. He was nibbling from a bowl of chips but slowed to listen.

“Um,” I stopped when Taehyung walked in.

God Damn! He had the limp, pink-swaddled body of Gina in the crook of his arm and he looked right at me.

I realize now that’s one of the things different. Ever since my date night with Yoongi, Taehyung has looked at me like he really sees me. I’m not furniture or wall paint anymore, it’s like I have a spotlight on me now.

“What are we talking about?” he whispered for the baby’s sake.

Nonna smiled as he bent and kissed her cheek, “Kookie’s filling me in on life. Go ahead.”

I searched for how to slowly lead to this, topics to climb toward the divorce but then Taehyung started, “It’s been a crazy month. Kookie and I are splitting up.”

She dropped her knife and looked between us. “I’m sorry what?”

I tried coming at it softer, “We…are in the process of a divorce but that’s not how I wanted you to find out.” I glared.

“Why?” She stopped and looked at Taehyung, “what the hell did you do?”

Taehyung shook his head, “it has to mean I did something?”

“If you cheated on Kookie I’m going to kill you.”

“He didn’t cheat Nonna.” I corrected. “We just fell out of love—”

“You,” Taehyung said as he sat across from me. “You fell out of love.”

I didn’t want to argue in front of his family so I pushed on, “It’s actually moving pretty quick. We just have a few things to…finalize.”

“But why?” She came over and slapped the back of Taehyung’s head. “I’m serious you idiot. What did you do?”

“Mom! I’m holding the baby.”

“I don’t care! Tell me!” Her eyes were getting wet and I suddenly felt awful.

“Nonna,” I said, “this doesn’t change what goes on between us. I love you, I’m not going away, and there’s no bitterness.”

“Oh yes there is,” she slapped Taehyung’s head again. “I’m bitter. Kim Taehyung I’m going to wring your neck.”

Hyejin came in with the diaper bag and grinned, “can I help?” she said with glee.

“Yes, you may.”

I got up to kiss and hug his mother and she held me tight. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said again.

She slapped the back of Taehyung’s head again while we hugged.

“Owe! Jesus Ma!” He swatted.

“You deserve worse. Take it like a man.” She scolded.

Namjoon laughed before popping another chip, “guess I’m still the favorite.” He teased.

Nona let go and wiped a telling tear from under her eye. “You gave me my first grandchild, of course you are. Your brother’s a failure.”

We laughed but it was hurting tonight. I think Taehyung knew it would. After dinner, we all went in different directions. 

Namjoon was sitting outside and Hyejin was napping since Gina had developed into a colicy handful and Taehyung was somewhere in the living room still attached to his niece. He’d even eaten dinner one-handed.

I helped his mom clean and we talked, skillfully avoiding the divorce. All until I caught her looking at my ring while I was drying the dishes she washed.

“Taehyung gave it to me in the lawyer’s office the other day,” I told her, “but I don’t think it was his place to make that decision.”

“I don’t want it, that part of my life is done.” She focused on washing for a time and I worried from what she said that she was mad at me. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin.

She went on, “Kookie…” I waited. “Please promise me, I won’t lose you. You and Hyejin—are like a tie that holds my family together.”

Ugh, she was tearing up again and I felt a slash go through my heart.

“I meant what I said Nonna, I’m not leaving, this is my family too now. Namjoon and Hyejin are my best friends. You mean so much to me.”

“Did he cheat?” she whispered like I wouldn’t tell her the truth if she didn’t.

“No, I don’t think so…I wondered for a while. This started two years ago so I do…wonder…if something happened, but I don’t think he’d do that. He just stopped seeing me.”

“You don’t deserve that.”

“Well, but neither does he. He needs someone that makes him feel the way I used to make him feel.” Saying that out loud grated on every nerve. She dried her hands to hug me close. 

I think my emotions were showing.

She rubbed my back and kissed my temple. “I know my boys…” she sniffed, “I love them but I know where they come up short. I also know what feeling alone in a marriage is like. If it’s the way I think it is…you need to do this.”

I leaned back into the counter and toyed with my neckless. “He’ll see how good this is eventually. He’ll be able to be like he was before we met. Finding love again and all.”

She smiled slowly and turned her back to wipe down the counters. “Kookie, you’ve had my boy’s heart since the night you met him. Then you kept it for years. He won’t be giving it to anyone for a long time.”

I felt comforted by that but shouldn’t.

I sighed, “Love must be bottomless, you fall in and you fall out. Either way, there’s no catching your feet.”

She chuckled, “Don’t worry honey, sometimes there’s a trampoline at the bottom…” I smiled just as my phone buzzed in my purse on the far end of the counter. “Okay, dove this is all cleaned up, thanks. I’m going to go break my back while I look out for my little Princess.”

“Okay,” I watched her go through the back door. I reached for my phone and seeing Jungwon’s message pop up I groaned and put the phone back in my purse.

I wandered out of the kitchen and into the living room to find Taehyung asleep and sprawled out on the sofa like a panther. His legs were longer than the couch and his big arm didn’t fit but he had it pulled in to secure Gina.

Gina was asleep on his chest, lying on her stomach with her lips parted. Her tiny body looked like a peanut on him, her little rump in the air; even his hands were bigger than her, as they kept her in place.

The closer I walked the more haunted I felt. I wanted this for us. It was out of a dream. The baby smell that I loved was swarming around the room and there he was; my beautiful husband.

I knelt by them and reached to take Gina but as soon as I moved her in the slightest his eyes opened and he held her tighter to his chest like it was a reflex.

“Oh, hey,” I whispered.

“Hey, did I pass out?”

“Yeah, I was going to take her in case she fell.”

“She won’t, I’ve got her.”

I took my hands away. He obviously did. “You’ve always been such a natural with babies.”

“They like me 'cause I’m hot.”

We laughed. “They like you because you’re goofy.”

“I’d make a super dad.”

“I guess it’s good we waited. Divorce with children would take longer and be hard on them…”

“On the flip side knocking you up would be my only hope right now.”

“Well, we haven’t needed protection in years.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah well condom sex is tragic. I should’ve burned all the condoms in the world.”

“Well, suppressants and contraception aren’t good for my irregular heat cycles. I’ve told you this before. There’s like a billion studies on—”

“Do you remember that one time we couldn’t find one and you insisted I fuck you anyway?”

I was more than shocked about him bringing this up.

I think I looked as shocked as I felt. “N-no…that was like forever ago,”

Like four years…

“I remember. We were on that sailing boat we rented, and you started it by telling me what you wanted to do to me, but you thought I wouldn’t act on it because we were out in an open space and it was daylight. So I threw you down on the deck because I never back down from a dare.” He stretched then went on, “I told you I didn’t have condoms though and you begged me for it anyway. That was a great day, not sure if it was the hot sun on my back when I was doing you, the tiny white dress you had on, or the lack of barriers so I could feel you taking me in.”

I sat with really wide eyes, I know they’re wide because they feel dry and cold.

What did he just say? I felt a sudden ache between my legs and in my chest that was making my breathing a little too sharp.

I took in a slow breath and fought for something to say, but I didn’t come up with anything so I just stood and said, “I think I’ll ride back with Namjoon and Hyejin.”

!!~~~~!!

Two Days Later…

“I can’t believe you guys are getting a divorce.” The high-pitched whine shrilled through the phone. I wanted to chuck it against the sidewalk.

“Yug, believe it.”

The news of our divorce was spreading like a wildfire in my family and friends now. 

Our rendezvous at Mr. Jung, my lawyer’s office sealed the deal. That we were finally getting divorced.

I stepped out of my car and stumbled back a step when the force of the late afternoon wind smacked me in the face. For a minute, I couldn’t hear anything on Yugyeom’s end because of the static and interruption from the wind.

“Hold on!” I yelled to Yugyeom, Hyejin’s brother and my neighbor and friend for years until he shifted to Tokyo after marriage, as I fumbled with the keys to the side door.

Our tiny house only had an unattached garage, which made the weather a real concern when trying to get in and out of the house. Since Seoul only had about three good months of weather during the year before it turned either surface-of-the-sun hot or winter cold, it made leaving the house at any time obnoxious.

Except near River Han. Then it was only differing degrees of violently windy. When we had looked at houses, Taehyung tried to convince me that the garage would be an issue, but I hadn’t been willing to listen.

I fell in love with this house from the street. I adored the cute coziness of it, the original but updated wood floors, and the brand new kitchen that was small but modern. I loved the loft-style bedroom upstairs and the office with French doors on the first floor.

We had always known we wouldn’t live here forever. This was not a house you could raise a large family in and when we were house hunting, we assumed we would have a large family.

That was something we could both easily agree on. But we needed something to start with, something that was just the right size for the two of us and something we could easily afford with our tight budget.

This house had been perfect.

And despite everything that happened, I still thought it was perfect. Except for the garage situation.

“Sorry,” I huffed once I’d made it through the door.

I dropped my tote bag filled with papers and notebooks that needed to be graded, my laptop, and my lunch bag on the ground as soon as I stepped inside.

My arm felt like it was going to break off. Pikachu danced around my feet, licking my legs and begging for attention. “I’m here now.”

“I just can’t believe it,” he moaned. “You two are so perfect for each other.”

My neck immediately started hurting. “I’m not sure that we are.”

“But, Jungkookie! What happened?” he asked the question then murmured something to his fussy baby.

Yugyeom and I didn’t get to talk very often, but usually, we could spend hours gabbing about nothing or everything or good times from our college years.

Today, though, I hoped his baby’s cries meant he needed to get going. I really didn’t want to have this conversation. I really wanted to talk about anything but my divorce or Taehyung or me.

The baby cried again and pain seared over my heart.

“Shhh...,” Yugyeom crooned. “That’s a good boy.” To me, he said, “This has been my fussiest baby yet. He is just never satisfied.”

I masked the brokenness in my voice by joking, “Because he’s an alpha.” I bent down to pet my own Pikachu.

Yugyeom laughed at my joke and the baby settled down. “So, tell me what happened. Last time we talked, you guys were doing great!”

We hadn’t been great. We hadn’t been great in a very long time. But I had never told him that.

I resigned myself to telling him the story. He wasn’t going to let it go, so I might as well give him what he wanted as quickly as I could, then get him the phone so I could wallow in my own pity.

Except that when I turned the corner and walked into my kitchen the topic of our discussion was sitting at the kitchen island helping himself to my chocolate mint ice cream.

“Holy shit!”

“Are you okay?” Yugyeom asked on the other end.

Taehyung gave me an apologetic wave but didn’t make a move to stand up. 

I grumbled, “Uh, um, er, yeah.”

Yugyeom’s voice echoed through the kitchen as I pulled the phone away from my ear. “Jungkook, what’s going on?”

I put the cell slowly back into my mouth. “I’ll call you back, Yuggy. Something came up here.”

“You’d better!” I heard him call, but I pushed the end without saying goodbye.

“Was that Yugyeom?” Taehyung asked without preamble.

“Yeah.” I took a solid minute to adjust to his presence, and then demanded, “What are you doing here?”

He took another bite of ice cream to hide his smile. “You literally say that every time you see me.”

“You just…I’m just…Taehyung!”

He grinned at me and I was surprised to see his easy expression. His jaw had been shaved neatly and his hair had been styled away from his face. I noticed his nice dark blue oxford and black dress pants and wondered what that was about.

His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms and I swallowed in a desperate attempt to stop staring at his tanned skin and lean muscle.

It was a shock to see him, but even more so to find him so attractive. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in years or like maybe I’d never seen him before.

My entire body reacted, taking notice of every angular cut to his body and the unique characteristic of his face.

When was the last time I had looked at him like this?

Something inside me yelled, ‘Yesterday, when you slept with a hard on for your soon to be ex husband.’

“Jungkook, you okay?”

I cleared my throat and nodded curtly. “I’m fine. Just, you know, surprised to see you.”

He tilted his head toward the kitchen window. “Mr. Patrick asked to borrow my jack. I swung over to get it to him.”

“You could have called me. I could have walked it next door.” He raised one eyebrow and I found myself smiling. “Okay, point taken.”

“It only took a minute anyway.”

“And the ice cream?”

“I skipped lunch and somebody was taunting me with texts about Micha’s a few days back. I’m starving. I was actually looking for something more substantial.”

I felt a blush stain my cheeks. “I’ve been meaning to go to the store.”

He watched me for a minute. I didn’t know what he was looking for or I would have tried to hide it from him. His silence grew awkward so I turned toward my discarded bags, deciding I should put everything away before I forgot.

“Do you have a gig tonight?” I kept my eyes on my task, hoping to avoid his forearms and the silly things they did to my insides.

He didn’t answer right away and it was just on the tip of my tongue to ask him to leave if he wasn’t going to talk to me when he said, “No, not tonight.”

“Then what’s with the clothes?”

“The what?”

I glanced over at him and our gazes locked for a moment before I tore mine away. “You look nice. I just thought…I thought you might have somewhere to be tonight. It’s Friday.”

I felt his smile from across the room, even though I wouldn’t look at him. “I know it’s Friday.”

“Well, you usually have gigs on Fridays.”

“Not every Friday.”

Irritation bubbled through me. “You’re right; sometimes they’re on Saturdays instead.”

He pushed back the stool and stood up. I heard him clattering around as he took his dish to the sink and washed it out. Leaning over, I noticed that he’d already washed the dishes I’d left in the sink. They sat on the drying rack perfectly clean.

“I, uh, I’m taking a little break from the band. You know, while I figure shit out.”

My heart tripped in my chest. That was something I had wanted to hear for a long time.

I had never wanted him to quit music entirely. I knew he couldn’t. And I also knew he shouldn’t. He was too good. And it was too vital to who he was as a human.

I never wanted to crush his dreams.

But I had also wondered if maybe his dreams needed to change. He had been tired of constant shows that paid little and got him nowhere. He had been exhausted from feeling like a failure and never getting to the place he wanted to be.

When we first started dating his music gave him life, it made him come alive. After his shows, it was like he was riding a high, completely buzzing with the energy that performing gave him.

But lately, he had come home angry and irritable. Gigs were more likely to suck the joy completely out of him than give him that same rush of adrenaline and fulfillment.

He hated it when I pointed that out. He hated that I didn’t believe in him…that I didn’t think he could make it.

What he didn’t realize was that it wasn’t that I didn’t think he was good enough, I saw that /he/ had started to think that he wasn’t good enough.

And it killed me as much as it killed him.

I stopped fiddling with my bags and set them down on our kitchen table with a long sigh. “You really don’t have a show?”

He turned around and leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “I really don’t have a show.”

“Oh.” I tried not to stare at his clothes. He worked part-time for a moving company, so he never wore nice clothes to work.

Was it a date?

To be continued...