9. Danny’s Christmas Party Bust

Chapter nine

Danny’s Christmas Party Bust

Lee never drank that much. How did he drink that much so fast? We hadn’t been there more than an hour before he was stumbling over, slurring his words. At first, I thought it was cute. But he kept muttering he was fine and leaning on me. Quin ended up helping me get him to the car. I was embarrassed, but worse, I knew this meant something. He talked all the way home, but I wasn’t sure he knew what he was saying. He was all about “I’m fine” and “I love you.” But then his words changed, and he talked about being trapped.

Trapped.

That was how he saw our relationship. He was miserable. That was way too obvious now. No more guessing how he felt. It hurt me to the core. I loved him so much, but I couldn’t stand him resenting me and being so unhappy. I wasn’t going to stand for it.

After dumping him in bed, I packed a duffle bag with underwear and socks, jeans, T-shirts and put three of my suits in a garment bag. I loaded them in my car along with my pillow and my favorite blanket. And my dragon stuffie, Smokey. Then I grabbed my messenger bag, which had my work laptop in it. I probably should grab my personal one, but I didn’t want to take time to pack it up. I had to get the fuck out of there.

I went back into the bathroom to pack toiletries. Razor, Toothbrush…my electric, polka-dot toothbrush sat on the counter next to Lee’s. My life sat here in this bathroom next to his. How did I even begin to untangle it?