his voice caught me off guard.
He immediately softened.
“Sorry. Work is still a mess after the trip.”
I studied him across the table.
“Was the conference worth it?”
He hesitated for less than a second.
“Probably. We may land a major account.”
“I’m glad.”
He gave me a weak smile and reached for his water.
That night, he changed in the bathroom with the door closed.
He had discovered the word.
Whether he saw it in the mirror or noticed the strange edges of the burn, he came to
