Page 138 of Homewrecker

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Blair—”

“Back away from my car.”

He looked around, remembering he lived in a neighborhood where everybody had cameras.

He stepped back. “Do you know what you’re about to start in my house?”

I stared at him. “No. But whatever happens in your house because of something you did isn’t my concern to stress about.”

That sentence wasn’t just for him. I needed it too. Once upon a time, I had helped a man convince me his marriage was everyone’s responsibility except his. Everyone except the motherfucker who made the vows.

Headlights swung into the driveway fast. A black SUV stopped behind us and Caren got out.

Derek cursed under his breath. “Caren—”

She walked right past him and straight to my car, so I got out.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

She looked me over anyway, then turned toward her husband. “What the fuck happened?”

“Nothing.”

Caren looked at me. “Apparently it was something.”

Derek threw his hands up. “I touched her back walking past her.”

Caren looked at me.

I nodded. “He did.”

“I complimented her and offered her wine. She turned the shit into something weird.”

I swallowed and took a deep breath. Old Blair would’ve questioned herself. Maybe I had. Maybe I was sensitive. Maybe— No.

“He’s leaving out the part where he said you didn’t have to know everything.”

Caren’s head snapped toward him.

Derek sighed. “It was a fucking joke.”

“What was funny?” Caren stepped closer. “What the fuck was funny, Derek?”

He said nothing and I didn’t need to be there for whatever came next.

I opened my car door. “Caren.”

She looked at me.

“I’m going to have Janelle send over everything we’ve completed.”

Her face fell. “You’re dropping us?”

“Yes.”