Free Elusive Love by K. A. Robinson Page B

anyway. If he were already asleep, I would just leave a message for him. I waited as the phone rang. I was surprised when he actually answered.
    “Caley? What’s wrong?” he asked as soon as he answered.
    “Nothing. Why would you assume that?”
    “Because it’s almost one in the morning, and you’re calling me. Why else would you be calling me this late?”
    “To apologize,” I said feebly.
    The line was dead silent.
    Finally, he said, “I’m sorry. What did you say? I know I couldn’t have heard that right.”
    I fought not to roll my eyes. “You heard me. I’m calling to apologize for getting upset with you last night. I know you did the right thing by taking this offer. It’s the only thing you could have done, besides quitting. I was too harsh with you, so I’m sorry.”
    “I’m not sure what to say,” Joey said, sounding half-amused. “It’s so rare that you admit when you’re wrong.”
    “Keep it up, and I’ll retract my apology,” I grumbled.
    He chuckled. “Can’t have that now, can we? Look, I get why you were upset. If you had come home with that kind of news, I would have blown a gasket, too.”
    “So, we’re done fighting over this?” I asked.
    “I was never fighting with you about it. You were the one who wanted a fight. But if you’re asking if we’re okay, then yes, we’re fine.”
    “I wouldn’t call us fine, even on a good day,” I said.
    He let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, we’re as fine as we can be then. How’s that?”
    “It’ll do.” I paused. “We’re falling apart, Joey. You know that, right?”
    “Yeah, I know.”
    I waited for him to say more, but the line stayed silent.
    “So, what are we going to do?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. I’m sure that isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. I don’t know what to do or say to make everything right again between us.”
    “I’m not even sure if we can make things right again,” I said, surprised at my own honesty. “I think that coexisting together might be as good as it’ll get.”
    “Maybe,” Joey said. “Maybe not. Listen, I need to go, but we’ll talk more about this on Saturday night when we’re both home from work, okay?”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    “Night, Caley.”
    “Night.” I said.
    But he hadn’t heard me. He had already disconnected our call.
    I put my phone back down on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling. I hated how sad our relationship had become. Even Joey knew we were barely holding on. He’d sounded as resigned as I did about the whole thing, as if it were only a matter of time until one of us completely gave up. I couldn’t help but wonder which one of us would cave first.
    Then, you’ll be completely alone again , I thought to myself.
    But no, that wasn’t true. I would never be alone again. I had Amelia. And my parents. And Ethan. Even if I were no longer married, I would never be alone. That thought comforted me. It also proved that I was finally growing up.
    When I was younger—hell, even as recently as a few months ago—being alone had terrified me. It seemed I was starting to realize the truth. Being single wasn’t the worst thing in the world. After all the suffering Joey and I had caused each other, maybe it would be a blessing in disguise.
    Still, I wasn’t ready to give up on Joey just yet. We owed it to each other to sit down and discuss everything even if it would be for the last time. The fear I felt about Amelia being raised by divorced parents was still there, enough so that I felt the need to fight for my marriage still, but it was no longer crippling me.
    Something was changing inside of me, making me braver and smarter even. Part of me wondered if it was Ethan. Being able to confide in him was making my poor choices and messed up life all feel more real to me. I’d kept things buried deep down inside for so long, and now, I finally had someone I could talk to. Hearing my own despairing words had been more of a wake-up call than