Boundaries

SAM

^TWO HOURS EARLIER^

Savory and sweet scents melded in my kitchen as I coated the prime rib in fresh butter, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. Once it came out of the oven, I set it on the table to rest—per the online recipe that had drained my phone battery into low-power mode.

A plethora of candles flickered on top of the maroon tablecloth, and polished silverware sat amongst porcelain plates across from one another. Sizable sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus sat nearby, along with a small helping of spinach for Evie.

I hated spinach, but I knew Evie liked it, and I’d read that it had a lot of folic acid, so it was good for the baby.

I also followed a video to prepare a New York-style cherry cheesecake that would hopefully knock Evie’s socks off—along with whatever pretty little dress she decided to wear tonight. The real showstopper, though, would be the shiny diamond ring.

I’d dithered over this proposal long enough. Getting to call Evie my fiancée would make me the happiest man in Vermont.

I reached into my slacks for the little black velvet box and popped it open. After that almost disaster at Christmas, I’d learned my lesson; the ring wasn’t coming out of its container till it went on Evie’s finger.

The gleaming clear gem sparkled with the fire of the rainbow even in the dim candlelight. It got back from resizing this past week, and the jeweler had done an excellent job. I’d never seen it look this shiny and new.

A knock suddenly sounded from outside.

~That’s Evie.~

My stomach plummeted, and I closed the tiny chest and slid it back inside my front pocket. I sped to the foyer, took a deep breath, and yanked open the door.

My smile drooped as I took in the sight of Carla, dressed to the nines in diamond earrings, a bold red lip, and a black dress—the same one she’d worn on our honeymoon ages ago.

“Carla?” I furrowed my brows. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.” She pushed past me and trailed into the foyer.

“No, n-no,” I stuttered. “Carla, you can’t be here right now. If you want to talk legal stuff about your divorce, make an appointment during office hours, okay?”

~For fuck’s sake, she’s going to ruin everything.~

“This will only take a minute,” she said. Then she paused and turned to face me fully. “Please, Sam.”

During our entire marriage, I could count on one hand the number of times Carla had used the word “please.” In many ways, she was the same old brash, bossy woman I’d always known, but…something had unquestionably changed since Christmas.

I was proud of her, in a way. That was why I kept answering her texts, even though I could tell Evie was getting annoyed with how often those texts came.

Still, Carla showing up at my house on the night of my planned proposal was something else entirely. “Okay,” I relented, “we can talk in the living room, but only for a second. I’ve got plans…”

“I can see that,” she said, eyeing the candles and the fancy table settings as she followed me into the living room.

I slid my fingertips into my pockets. “So, what do you want to talk about?”

She stood a few steps away from me, looking up at me with frank eyes. “I’m just going to come right out and say it, okay? I’m still in love with you. I think we should be together again.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. “W-what?”

“You don’t have to say anything,” she said, stealing a step in my direction. “I know it’s sudden. I know you’re with Evie now, and I like her more than I expected to. But you were mine first.”

This whole speech was so ~Carla~. Everything I’d always found both charming and infuriating about her. “Yeah, and then you cheated on me. You married that asshole. I don’t really care that you’re divorcing him now. It’s too late.”

Carla’s anxiety traced her forehead in the form of three fine lines, as if the stress of her divorce had been defeating her Botox at a quicker rate than usual.

“I never should’ve left you,” she agreed, inching another centimeter forward. “Everything’s gone to shit since then.”

Why was she confessing all of this now? Tonight? “I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression,” I said carefully. “I thought maybe we could be friends—family, like what you said at Christmas.”

“You are my family,” she said, reaching for my hand. I pulled it away.

“So is Evie,” I pointed out. “She’s having my baby, Carla. You remember that part, right? We’re literally starting a family together. I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, but I really need you to go—”

She huffed out a frustrated breath. “Tell me you don’t still feel the sparks between us.” And before I could say anything, she grabbed me and forced her lips against mine.

My stomach plunged, but not in the way it used to when she’d kissed me during the first few years of our marriage. Her mouth tasted bitter, summoning an ache in my gut like food poisoning.

I kept my own mouth still like a dead fish even as Carla did her best to lick her way inside. There was no spark anymore, no matter what Carla might try to claim. I loved Evie with all my heart, in a way that left no room for anyone else, least of all Carla.

I seized Carla’s shoulders and shoved her from my personal space. As her lips peeled from mine, she blinked at me in surprise, like she was wondering why I didn’t sweep her off her feet and carry her to the bedroom.

“We need to draw some boundaries right now,” I said firmly.

“But—”

“No, Carla. Listen. We can’t be friends. Not if you’re going to show up in my living room and try to kiss me. I’m with Evie. I love Evie.”

“I know you think you do,” she said dismissively. “It’s only been a couple months. You don’t have to stay with her just because of the baby.”

“I don’t have to take you back just because you’ve suddenly decided you want me again,” I countered. “I’m going to talk to my parents. You should find somewhere else to spend the holidays next year.”

“What? You can’t—”

“I can. You don’t get to take advantage of my parents’ hospitality to try and worm your way back into my pants. There’s too much toxic baggage between us; we both need a fresh start.”

“You’ll regret this,” she said. “Your little girlfriend can’t compare to me.”

“You’re right,” I said. “She’s a million times better for me than you ever were.” Then, softening just a little, “I hope someday you’ll find someone who makes you feel the same.”

Carla marched to the foyer and out the door, slamming it behind her.

I sighed. That went badly, but…maybe it was a long time coming. I’d seen firsthand the catharsis that Evie got from cutting her ex loose once and for all. It was long past time for me to do the same.

I once again removed the velvet box from my pocket and clicked it open. This was my future. Any minute now, Evie would walk through that door, and I could put this ring on her finger.

The thought sent a sentimental grin straight to my face and a twitch straight to my groin.

***

A couple of hours later, I sat alone at the gussied-up table. The dinner I’d prepared was now room temperature, the candles dripping wax all over the tablecloth, my suit rumpled with how much I’d been fidgeting.

Evie was late. I’d tried calling, texting. No answer at all. I was getting concerned. Had she been in an accident? This was her home now; she had to show up eventually.

If waiting all night was what it took, that’s what I’d do.