They ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. Morgan tried to keep the conversation going, but Faith's attention was inward, not outward. She wasn't sure when he stopped talking and began working via his phone again, but when the server cleared the plates away, it surprised her. She didn't even remember eating.Morgan paid for the meal as she gathered her stuff, and the two walked to the elevators. She hugged herself as she rode the elevator up the four floors. She could feel Morgan watching her and felt guilty for her mood, but she couldn't help it. Too much was going through her mind and her heart. Morgan was probably disappointed, hoping for some more impromptu fun after the previous night, but Faith just couldn't bring herself to think about that at the moment. All she could think about was Edwin and Selby, and she wasn't even thinking of them in the right order."Look, if you need to talk, I'm right across the hall," Morgan said as they reached their rooms. "Of course, if you need anyt
Faith slept like shit that night. Throughout the day, her head pounded like it had a high school drumline following her around. She had a war going on inside of her, and she was afraid of which side would win. If Selby hadn't called last night, Faith probably would have ended the game on her own but hearing Cherish's name brought into it just sent her spiraling out of control.The odd thing was that the battle within her was no longer about Selby and Edwin; it was about Edwin and Cherish. If he was sleeping with her sister, did it really matter? This was just a game about sex, not a relationship. Wasn't it? What difference did it make who else Edwin was doing the dirty deed with if it was just sex? After all, it's not as if Faith had an exclusive right to him. That wouldn't be at all fair considering she went home to Selby every night. There was no commitment, no future planned out. Edwin didn't check in with her. That's obvious from how often he's called me since I left Brevard. She d
Selby locked the door to the bookstore and made his way to his car. However, after stowing his briefcase in the passenger seat, he decided he wasn't ready to go home just yet. Three nights walking into an empty house had been bad enough. He wanted to postpone the fourth as long as he could. He glanced over at Joe's Bakery, but decided he really wasn't in the mood for company either. Scanning the downtown, scene he decided clubs were out, as well.Shoving the keys in his pocket, Selby crossed New Haven and decided to see where his feet would lead him. Maybe he just needed to walk.The afternoon—early evening? He never knew which category five o'clock fell into—held a slight breeze that tugged at the small maples that lined the street. Selby walked with his hands in his pockets, watching the people as they browsed the antique shops and specialty stores. Couples walked hand-in-hand as they leisurely strolled the sidewalk. Some sat whispering at small tables outside the cafés that lined th
Edwin stared at his glass as he shrugged. "Cherish has lost her drive and ambition. Work has become a bore to her, which she tries to avoid at all costs now. It wasn't as obvious while Faith was here, because Faith picked up the slack and was eager to do it. She loves to work and throws herself into it."Selby smiled. He could picture Faith working at a feverish pitch. "I've always thought Faith found her identity in her work.""I can see that," Edwin said as he nodded. "However, her sister doesn't, or at least, not anymore. Cherish used to be like Faith, but that ended several months ago. Cherish felt entitled and soon stopped caring as much about work. As Faith underwent her metamorphism and came out of her shell, Cherish grumbled and withdrew even more.""Glen thinks she's jealous." Selby had been staring at the table in front of him when he said it and hadn't even realized he said it out loud until it was too late to retract it."Glen? Cherish's husband? What would she be jealous o
Her phone rang for the third time that night, and as she did the first two times, Faith allowed it to go to voicemail. She was not in the mood to deal with Selby right then. This was her last night away, and she planned to enjoy it without worrying about anyone's consequences. Tonight was not about Selby or Edwin or Cherish or Rutherford Construction or her family. Tonight was about Faith. Fuck the rest of them; at least for tonight.Morgan took her to a sports bar close to the hotel, and she did not waste time ordering drinks. She had two Rum Runners before their meal arrived with no intention of slowing down. Televisions blared as well as music, and Faith teased and joked with Kent and the two laborers who caught up with them. Patricia finally showed up, her eyes glued to Kent, and it was a proper sendoff. They finished working and would return home in the morning. However, tonight, Faith planned on having fun.By the time dinner was finished, so was her third drink, and Faith wanted
The morning came early. Faith hit the snooze button three times before she forced her eyes to creek open and tried to focus on the popcorn ceiling. Each time she silenced the screeching wail, she negotiated with herself in order to remain in bed. She didn't need to wash her hair. She could wear her Polo pullover, instead of her beige top, so she didn't need to iron anything. She would risk sandals and forget socks and shoes. Finally, there was nothing else to cross off her morning routine. She had to get up.Her head throbbed as if one of those silly wind-up monkeys clanged its cymbals behind her eyeballs. She slammed the alarm off as she squeezed the bridge of her nose between two fingers. Groaning, she pulled herself into a sitting position, the blankets bunched around her waist. Oh god, what did I do to myself?Faith left the warmth of her bed and trudged her way to the bathroom, holding her head with her right hand. With her left hand, she turned on the shower, avoiding the mirror.
Selby stared at the clock on the wall. Faith had been on the road for two hours with another hour to go. He gave up stocking shelves and just sat behind the counter staring at the rotating hands of the clock. They didn't move. Time wasn't just dragging; it had stopped altogether.There had been no morning call, just a text saying she was leaving and she loved him. He wanted to keep texting her on her ride home but didn't. She had ignored his calls last night and hadn't called that morning. She was making a statement, a loud one, and Selby had gotten the message. She needed some space, and he forced himself to give it to her.His fear, however, was what might happen on the other end of that space. Would Faith continue to see Edwin just for spite, even after Selby had asked her to stop? Then, the next question was how much Selby would continue to allow. This went beyond their sexual exploration. Faith's relationship with Edwin had the potential to explode in her face and rain down into h
Faith was quiet for most of the trip, her thoughts sinking in the quicksand that became her life. Morgan remained stuck on his phone conducting business, making Neal money as he liked to say. Their conversation, when they had it, was light, him telling her what a great job she had done and how he appreciated all her hard work. He intended to head back to Orlando when they returned, and it'd be at least a month before he was in Brevard again."To be honest, Neal's thinking of taking me to Mississippi with him," Morgan said as they finally entered Brevard County. "Seems, he's ready to branch out more, and there's still quite a bit to rebuild after Katrina.""Where in Mississippi?""Right around Biloxi. I was thinking you did such a great job this week, I'd take you with me to train a brand-new office."She couldn't help but smile at the thought, and she hoped some of it was true. Of course, knowing Morgan as she did, he was also probably hoping to finish their little tryst. She had to ad