“What? You divorced because you didn’t cook?”

He didn’t look at Kamila but kept making momos as he spoke. “No, not the cooking, specifically—more the not spending time at home. We met at work. We worked together. She was at the office even longer hours than I was, and then we would meet somewhere for dinner. Almost every night.”

“Sounds like you spent too much time together.” Kamila would never set up a friend with someone they worked with. Couples needed space.

“Ah, yes and no. We were together all the time, but we were never alone. Work isn’t living, you know? We weren’t really together. I don’t remember ever feeling like I wanted or needed to spend every waking moment with her. I thought that was because we saw so much of each other, so there was no urgency to be alone.” He sighed. “I’m never getting involved with a colleague again. It distorts the relationship. That’s one of the reasons why I left the law firm and finally started full-time at HNS—I’d hoped not working together would fix us. But…we weren’t really suited. That became clear when we stopped seeing so much of each other.”

So that was why they’d split. Kamila had resented Lisa after their separation because she assumed Lisa had hurt Rohan in more ways than just taking his cat. But it sounded like it wasn’t one of them hurting the other, but two people at the wrong place and time, caught up in what they thought they were supposed to do.

Kamila wanted to know more—had he ever felt that urgency to spend time alone with Lisa? Before things went stale? But that felt like prying.

But she was still curious. “Have you ever felt that for anyone at all?”

“What?”

“That urgency. Desperation, craving…to be alone with someone. Not just for sex.”

“Have you?”

She snorted. “Always a lawyer. Answering a question with a question. No, I’ve never felt that. I’m not sure I’m capable. Which is fine for me. I’m happy with casual, remember?”

He looked at her, lip upturned. “I think you’re capable, Kam. Maybe you’re not ready yet.”

She laughed. “Oh? And how would you know that?”

“I’m older and wiser. I know.”