Chapter 3All Out of Love

"Of course!" Clayton's voice jumped an octave. "You're serious about this, right? This isn't just you blowing off steam after a fight with her?"

I laughed. "I swear it."

"I want to open an overseas branch, and I need exactly your kind of pioneer instincts! You in for going abroad together?"

"Of course."

"Perfect! Take the foreign language test, then. A 60% score is all you need. I'll be right there with you. We leave next month!"

After I hung up, I dug out my old foreign language practice tests, the ones that had been gathering dust for years.

I should have taken the test long ago, but then I'd met Ally.

My fluency in that language was only average, so I needed to start putting in real effort right away.

Still weak from the surgery, I sat in the study dabbing menthol balm on my temples while I worked through essay structures. Since my right hand no longer worked after the accident, I had to try over and over again with my left.

Before I knew it, I'd fallen asleep face down on the desk.

Half-asleep, I thought I heard a noise outside the door.

"Robby won't be mad at me for sending you home, will he?"

Then came Ally's voice, faintly slurred with alcohol.

"He won't. He'll just cry and beg me not to leave him."

"Careful, Ally!"

A startled cry rang out, and the study door was shoved open hard, jolting me fully awake.

Ally was leaning against Zack, reeking of alcohol, his arm around her waist. She looked up and spotted me sitting at the desk.

"You're back?"

I rubbed my eyes and yawned.

Zack let go of Ally at once, flustered.

"Sorry, Robby! Ally had too much to drink. There weren't any cabs around, so I..."

"Oh. Thanks for that."

I didn't bother asking where Ally's driver had run off to. Instead, I gave a soft laugh and walked over to pat him on the shoulder.

"Your face is frozen red. Thanks for bringing her home safe."

Zack froze. Even Ally's brow furrowed.

"Robby, what's with the attitude?"

"Hm? I don't know what you mean."

"Robby, I really didn't mean for this to happen," Zack suddenly grabbed my arm. "If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don't let this come between you and Ally over..."

I pressed a hot water bottle into his hands.

"Here. Don't catch a cold."

Zack's words died in his throat. He clutched the hot water bottle in silence, a hint of resentment in the look he gave me.

I turned and headed for the bedroom on my own.

"If you don't mind, you can sleep in the guest room next door. I'm tired, so I won't keep you two company. Good night."

I went into the bedroom and shut the door behind me.

Outside, the two of them stood frozen in place.

I'd barely closed my eyes when the bedroom door opened behind me.

"Robby."

A few soft calls came first. I was tired and didn't want to answer.

"Robby, I know you're not asleep."

There was an edge of anger in Ally's voice.

I forced my eyes open. "Need something?"

"I sent him home."

"Oh. Didn't want him staying the night, then?"

Her brow creased.

"Robby, he and I grew up together. I need you to stop being so unreasonably jealous."

"Jealous of what?" I laughed. "It just snowed tonight and the roads are icy. I didn't think it was safe for him to drive home, that's all."

Ally went still.

I closed my eyes and drifted off again.

Her warm skin pressed against my back, her breath grazing my ear.

"You don't have anything else to say?"

I kept my eyes shut. "Say about what?"

"Isn't this usually when you'd have a lot to say?"

I opened my eyes.

Right. Every single time she was with another man, I had to pick a fight and make her prove herself to me.