Chapter 60. It's Best You Leave

Luke

The universe must truly hate me.

I mean, it’s the only explanation why every time I try to do something right, something that makes me happy, it comes with problems like an estranged husband who doesn’t understand boundaries.

A man like Ryan.

He stands frozen in the doorway, his gaze fixed on Julie like she’s the only person in the room.

Julie taps my arm, bringing me back to life. I pull myself together and step back to grab my pants, fumbling to get them on. Suddenly I feel like a teenager caught in his girlfriend’s bedroom by her father.

Meanwhile, Julie has left the dresser. She's staring at Ryan with an icy glare.

“Was I unclear,” she says, “when I told you you’re no longer welcome in this house?”

I watch her walk toward him, the silk nightgown clinging to her in ways that leave nothing to the imagination. The bottom half of the gown is folded and still hanging askew around her waist.

Reflexively, I rea