Ivan drops me off almost precisely at midnight.
In the car, he leans over to give me one last kiss goodnight, but I put a hand out to stop him.
“Please,” I say, my eyes sad. He pulls back, surprised, but then his eyes flick up to the house, maybe thinking about Daniel – my apparent fiancé – waiting inside.
“All right,” he whispers, giving me a warm little smile. Then he takes my hand in his and raises it to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss against my knuckles, just as he did that time at the bar. “I want to see you again, Fay. Soon.”
I nod, giving him a half smile, but I don’t say anything as I step out of the car, my mood strange and taciturn. I wave as Ivan pulls away but I don’t turn and head into the house immediately. Because frankly, I’m not sure I want to be here, and I
