I didn’t see James until the next morning. As I stepped outside into the chilly air, I noticed his car parked outside the building. He stood beside it, smoking, the sharp smell of tobacco drifting faintly toward me.
The moment he saw me, he crushed the cigarette underfoot and tossed the butt into the trash can before heading my way.
I ignored him, walking straight past as if he didn’t exist.
“Zelda,” his voice stopped me, firm yet edged with something else. “You weren’t sick last night, were you?”
The bitterness bubbled up before I could stop it. I turned to him, letting my anger show. “Don’t you think it’s a little late to care about me now, Mr. Ferguson? Or did you finally find time to think about me after tending to your ‘precious’ Susan all night?”
His face hardened, b
