Chapter 5 - THE APARTMENT WITHOUT HER
Blake returned home at 2:17 in the morning.
The apartment was dark.
Kira's shoes were gone from the entryway.
Her coat was missing.
The small ceramic bowl she kept beside the door had disappeared.
He walked into the bedroom.
Her side of the closet was empty.
Not completely.
She'd left the things he bought her.
The expensive handbags.
The jewelry.
The silk dresses.
Everything she'd purchased herself was gone.
Blake sat on the edge of the bed.
He stared at the empty space beside him.
Then he noticed something on the nightstand.
A framed photograph.
Their engagement.
Kira smiling.
Blake kissing her forehead.
He picked it up.
For the first time, he noticed something he'd never considered.
Kira was looking at the camera.
He was looking at his phone.
He remembered the moment.
Riley had called.
She was upset about a fight with her boyfriend.
Blake had answered.
Kira had laughed and told the photographer to keep shooting.
He'd thought she was being understanding.
Now he wondered whether she'd been hiding her disappointment.
His phone rang.
Riley.
He stared at the screen.
Then answered.
“Blake?”
He closed his eyes.
“What?”
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
She hesitated.
“Can I come over?”
He looked around the empty apartment.
Then whispered, “No.”
Silence.
Riley sounded hurt.
“I just want to help.”
Blake stared at Kira's photograph.
May you like
And for the first time, he asked the question Gavin had asked him.
“Riley, why did you need to dance with me at my wedding?”
