He couldn't understand why I wasn't making a scene this time, why my reaction had shifted so drastically.
But I understood perfectly.
Fighting and comparing were pointless. All my jealousy ever did was make him miss Cassandra's sweetness and warmth even more, pushing the two of us further apart.
Besides, I didn't want to care anymore.
That night, the mattress dipped behind me. Morris reached over and pulled me into his arms from behind.
He sighed, his thumb tracing slow circles over my hand.
"Regina, I know I've been neglecting you lately, and that it's been hard on you. But you have to believe me. There's nothing between Cassandra and me. We're just friends now."
I laughed inside. A cold, hollow laugh.
How did he manage to say something so noble-sounding with a straight face?
If I hadn't seen every single thing he'd done for Cassandra with my own eyes, maybe I really would have been foolish enough to believe him.
"Regina, I promise, once I'm back from this trip, we'll settle into a good life together. No one else will come between us."
Morris murmured the words low against my hair. I couldn't tell if he was making me a promise or trying to talk his own wandering heart back on course.