His eyes were so wide, Frazer almost grimaced. She’d put that look on his face.

“That’s two-fifths of the way there?” She went for a helpful tone, and he simply narrowed his eyes at her.

“Drugs. I want all the drugs.”

* * *

The house was quiet, and it didn’t bother Cora.

Lisa had gone home hours ago, but that wasn’t important. Because Cora was settling into her own space, finding places for her own things. Learning how she fit into this strange, new freedom. Tomorrow she would talk to Alec about collecting her more personal belongings.

She could face him.

Hopefully.

Then she could have her books. Two bookshelves were set up, ready to be filled. The vase, another thing from her great grandmother—one of the first things she bought herself in Australia after she’d come from Thailand—could go in the centre of a middle shelf. She needed to find the book her maternal grandmother had given her too, completely in Korean, with illustrations that took her breath away. She’d buy a rug soon too, a neutral colour, one that complemented the dark wood of her bookshelves. Maybe she’d buy sheet sets, brand new, good quality. Something nice to lay between and feel warm and secure. The ones she’d bought from Ikea were fine, but maybe it would be nice to spoil herself a little.

Cool white wine, the first sip of the evening, went down very well.

A flush coursed over her cheeks at the memory that so did Frazer. Frazer, who wouldn’t speak to her or look at her. Cora really needed a plan.

It was ridiculous. Stupid, even. There was no way she was in a good place for a relationship. The old one was barely over. Yes, there had been overlap, but what she had been doing with Frazer had not been emotional, right?

Cora wanted to slap herself.

How had she been so oblivious to the fact that she hadn’t just been having a physical affair but an emotional one? Getting up and never letting them bask in the aftermath, keeping talk and sex separate. That had been her smart idea, her proof to herself that the affair meant nothing.

Never mind that Cora had sought Frazer out every day and Frazer her as well. And not just for fast, hot sex in an inappropriate place, but for comfort, for an ear, for a joke that she knew Frazer would appreciate. For the balm of her smile, so easily given. She had fallen into the well of Frazer’s eyes, the scent of her skin, the curve of her neck until the heady aftermath she’d always stayed away from, as if it absolved her from true wrongdoing, became part of her too.

God, she missed Frazer.

A laugh bubbled out from her lips, and she shook her head at herself.