"Is that Hannah?"


    Gazing at the endless stream of traffic on the highway, Hannah heard the question and let out a dry, humorlessugh.


    She pressed her lips together, raked a hand through her hair, and reined in the anger simmering in her eyes. "If you''re trying to call Sandra, you''ve got the wrong number."


    "Hannah, it''s you I''m calling for!" Lionel said in a rush, terrified she''d hang up on him. She''d blocked him so many timestely that he was practically conditioned to expect it, half-expecting the line to go dead at any second.


    Hannah said nothing, simply leaning against a nearby pir and gazing up at the crescent moon.


    "Are you workingte?"


    "If you have something to say, just say it. Stop beating around the bush."


    "Why aren''t you home yet?" Lionel pressed. "You''re usually back by now. Did you... did you move out again?"


    The thought struck him with a jolt, and he shot to his feet in a panic. The woman would do anything to avoid him-requesting business trips to other cities, holing up in hotels, even crashing at a friend''s ce. He''d actually thought that bringing her back to the house meant she would stay put this time, that she''d finally stop her ridiculous games.


    He''d given her too much credit.


    Lionel pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Where did you move to this time? Tell me, and I''lle get you right now!"


    "Lionel, what on earth are you doing?"


    A sense of unease crept over Hannah. He was acting so strangely tonight.


    "Just tell me, did you move out again? Is it because of what I said this morning? Did you get angry and leave?" He took a deep breath. "You were the one in the wrong. You sold the jewelry I gave you without asking and transferred the money to Tess'' ount. You''re trying to hide marital assets, and I barely said a word about it, but here you are, throwing another tantrum!"


    "Hannah, you said you loved it, so I put in a special order. It took two months to arrive, but you never even wore it. And now you just turn around and sell it? How could you do that to me!"


    The memory of the ne made Lionel''s chest tighten. All it had taken was a single nce from her and he''d known she wanted it. He bough it without a second thought. How many guys were there like him? What more could she possibly want?


    A wave of irritation washed over Hannah. A perfectly good dinner with her colleagues,pletely ruined by his call.


    "Loved it? When have I ever loved anything you''ve given me? You just force things on me because you''re afraid I''ll embarrass you, that I won''t look the part standing next to the great Mr. Lionel Rosenberg! And what''s this about waiting two months? That''s just ridiculous!"


    "Let me warn you, Lionel, if you want to have a meltdown, go find Sandra. And so what if I''m moving marital assets? You think you haven''t? I''m just following your lead!"


    With that, Hannah furiously ended the call and blocked the asshole''s number again. Idiots like him belonged on a block list; it was the only way to get some peace.


    She stood by the entrance for a moment topose herself before rejoining her friends, telling them it was just some jerk harassing her.


    They all stayed out until after ten before calling it a night.


    As soon as Hannah stepped out of the restaurant, she spotted a familiar car parked across the street.


    "What''s wrong? You look like you''ve seen a ghost," Anna joked.


    "Something like that. Hey, Anna, let me give you a ride home," Hannah said,


    quickly walking to the passenger side and opening the door for her.


    "Sure!" Anna replied with a grin, hopping in without a second thought.


    Hannah got in, started the car, and pulled away from the curb. Just as she did, the other car began to follow.


    ...