“You keep saying you’ll leave.”
A pause.
Then his voice softened.
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“Of course. I told you, I want to be with you.”
Sophie shifted in my arms.
I bounced her automatically.
Then Elon said, “I barely touch her anymore. I can’t stand being around her half the time.”
“I told you, I want to be with you.”
My mouth went dry.
Sierra murmured something.
Elon laughed again.
“Of course I hate her.”
I stared at my daughter.
Her eyes had closed.
“I’ll divorce her,” he said. “Then I’ll marry you.”
A kissing sound came through the speaker.
My hand finally moved.
I ended the call.
For a few seconds, I stared at the dark screen.
“I’ll divorce her.”
Then Sophie made a hungry little noise.
I picked up her bottle and tightened the lid twice
It was already closed.
“Sorry, baby.”
My voice barely worked.
I fed her.
I didn’t call Elon back.
That was the first decision I made for myself.
Two hours later, the front door opened.
“Maddie?”
I wiped under my eyes and walked into the kitchen.
Elon stood there holding grocery-store daisies and a box of chocolate.
“For my favorite girls.”
I looked at the flowers, then him.
“Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead.
“Missed you two.”
The lie came so easily that something inside me went still.
“Long day?” I asked.
“Brutal. Back-to-back meetings.”
“Did you even eat?”
“Barely.”
