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When I pushed open the apartment door, Dante and Isobel were sitting on my couch. Talking in low voices. They hadn't been back in a week.

Dante glanced at the folder in my hand. "What's all that?"

I gave him the easy answer. "Stuff I didn't need at work. I brought it home to sort through."

He nodded, then scanned the room. A small line formed between his brows.

"I was gone a week. Why does this place look emptier?"

I took the folder into the bedroom and came back. My voice was even.

"Just threw out some things I don't need."

Dante started to say something—but Isobel cut him off.

"Nina." She said my name carefully. "Dante was so good to me on our trip. Really wonderful. And thank you for letting him take those engagement photos with me. It meant the world."

There was the faintest thread of pride under her voice.

"Let me take you both out to dinner. As a thank you. I'm going to be leaning on you both for a while, I'm afraid. I hope you don't end up hating me, Nina."

I wasn't in the mood for these games anymore. Five more days and I'd be out of this city, out of his life. I just wanted to get through it.

When I didn't respond, Isobel's eyes instantly shimmered with tears.

"Dante, did I upset her? I know you two are about to get married, but—"

Dante's brows snapped together. He turned on me.

"Isobel is genuinely trying to thank us. What are you pulling this attitude for? It's just dinner. She's not poisoning you."

I hadn't said a single word, and he'd already cast me as the villain.

I went to dinner.