“I need up,” I managed, and Holden eased away from me enough that I could stand and put some distance between us. I walked to the window that looked out over the city, keeping my back to him. “It’s over. I’m eternally grateful for everything you’ve done for me, but we can end the marriage now. I’m so sorry to have put you through it for nothing.”

“Wha— Chloe, what are you talking about? We are married. I’m here for you.”

“We’re fake married. There’s no point in pretending anymore. We can both have our lives back.” Well, he could. I’d have to figure out what my life was. Where I would work. What I would do.

He laughed, and it rang with disbelief. “You’re a big part of my life. You’ve been a big part of my life since we were little kids. You think I’m going to leave you now?”

Of course he thought he wasn’t. That was Holden. He was the most steadfast, reliable person I’d ever known, and it gave me hope that we could come out of this, out of our marriage with our friendship intact.

I pivoted to face him, though I still didn’t make eye contact. I knew I looked a wreck, but even more, I was sure he would see the devastation in my eyes if I let him. Something in me said I needed to protect that. Though Holden had been at my side, so to speak, for the past six weeks, I needed to remember how to forge my way ahead alone once again. I’d let myself depend on him for long enough.

“I know you’d stay here and be supportive for as long as I want you to,” I said, “but I really need to be alone.”

“That’s not what you need, Chloe. We’re supposed to stick together even when things go south. Especially when things go south.”

“Holden,” I said sharply, needing to get through to him. “Our marriage is over. We can dissolve it now.” I tried hard to smile, to reassure him that I would be okay. “You’re free. We’re both free. We’ll sign the papers early.”

“No.”

God, give me strength. This man was so determined to “help,” so determined to do the right thing… It was part of what I loved about him. It was also why I would absolutely insist on setting him free.

“You can blame it all on me. Say I took a job out of the country or… I don’t know.” Maybe I would take a job out of the country.

He was directly in front of me before I realized he’d moved, his hands on my upper arms, face in front of mine. “Chloe, listen to me. I don’t want to end our marriage. I love you.”