210: Costume

"I hired that woman," he says.

I look up, but he doesn't meet my gaze. We've been holding each other in silence for the last thirty minutes and everything felt perfect until now. Despite how great he just made me feel, this news doesn't sit well with me. It's hard to swallow and it just sits in my mouth, making it bitter.

He finally meets my gaze and his expression changes everything for me. It dispels my growing anger. He didn't want to tell me this, but I guess he didn't want to prolong the inevitable.

I nod. "OK."

I don't know what else to say to him. I told myself that nothing would ruin this moment and I'm going to make sure nothing does even though a small part of me has died upon hearing this. Am I being a little too dramatic? Maybe. But I can't change the way I feel about her. I can't shake off that first impression.

I can't help but feel like she's taking my place.

"Penelope spoke to Ethan," he says, confirming what I already knew. "I couldn't say no."

I touch his face. "I me