"Back then, you said you'd never replace this couch, no matter how much money you made."
"You said it was proof that we loved each other."
Julian's gaze flickered. He couldn't look at me.
I picked up the remote from the coffee table. A strip of tape was wound around its middle, from the time Julian had gotten drunk and dropped it. I hadn't wanted to replace it, so I'd just wrapped it in tape.
I ran my thumb over the ridged edge of the tape.
"But the truth is, things stay and people change. Isn't that right?"
"No!" Julian rushed toward me. "That's not how it is!"
His eyes were already rimming red, the same way they always did whenever he got worked up.
"Lucille and I were an accident!"
"I don't love her!"
"I swear!"
He dropped to one knee in front of me and reached for my hand. I shifted away. I watched the flash of hurt cross his face, and then he kept going.
"That night at the dinner, I'd had too much to drink. I don't even know how Lucille ended up at the hotel. When I woke up, I was terrified. I'm not lying to you!"
Tears spilled down his cheeks.
"I was afraid that if you found out, you'd leave me, that you'd be furious. I didn't know how to face you!"
"So I just—"
"How long?"
"What?"