“She’s trying to hurt you. She’s trying to get you to leave me.”

“Then she wins. She can have you because it’s over. I don’t know you. You’re not the man I thought you were.”

“Lina,” he whispered, pain evident in his eyes. “Don’t do this. I’m begging you.”

“I wish I had never met you.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do. Now let go of my arm.” She struggled to free herself from his grip. “You’ve lost your right to touch me.”

“You’re not going into his house.” He yanked her back towards him. “You’re still my wife.”

“Let her go,” Nick said.

Phil pushed Lina back behind him before launching himself at Nick.

“No!” Lina cried, but before she could intervene, Phil was throwing a fist towards Nick’s face.

It was all a blur in Lina’s mind. Nick either ducked or shifted his head to the side, and Phil’s fist connected with the brick front of the house. Then Nick dug his fingers into the back of Phil’s neck and twisted one of his arms behind his back as he pushed him into the brick he’d just punched.

“This is what’s going to happen,” Nick said, his voice low and controlled as he held Phil against the wall, his lower body pushed up against the length of Phil’s. “You’re going to get in your car and leave. And you and Lina are going to take tonight to cool off and start thinking about your children. You can talk tomorrow when you’re both calmer. Lina?”

“Yes.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“If you’re choosing to stay here, you should go inside now.”

She entered his house, stopping just inside the door, continuing to listen as Nick once again began speaking to Phil. “Just so we’re clear, I’m not sleeping with your wife. She’s an emotional wreck, and I’m not about to take advantage of that. She is here because she needs a friend. I’m a friend. And I suggest you think twice before coming at me again. I am a fifth-degree black belt in karate, and you could get seriously hurt. I’m going to let you go now. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Hours later, Lina set down the philosophy book she’d found in Nick’s guest room, unable to concentrate as thoughts of Phil swirled in her mind. She could feel him. He was upset or hurt or both. She checked her cell phone for the first time since leaving her house and saw over a dozen voicemails, but the two from Phil were from before he came to Nick’s. He hadn’t attempted to call or text since he left. She was imagining things.