Alex slept badly and woke worse.
The phone demand from the night before sat in the room like something that hadn’t been put away. Troy had stopped himself. He hadn’t taken the phone. He had admitted he was wrong. None of that erased the second when his voice had turned into the old version of him and asked for access like it was still his right.
Alex went downstairs late. The kitchen was empty. Coffee had been made and left to cool. There was a short note on the counter in Troy’s handwriting.
*Office until mid-afternoon. I’m not going to pretend last night didn’t happen. We talk when I’m back.*
Alex read it twice, then folded it once and left it where it was. He made fresh coffee and stood at the window with the mug between his hands. The house felt quiet in a way that wasn’t peace. Br
