“This is Ryot, Myla. Of course he’s going to say sweet things. He always has. What did you think he was going to say? That you’re a rotten bitch, and he hopes you burn in flames?”

“No, I just . . . ugh, I don’t know. What he appreciated about me was really sweet, but it was his confession that destroyed me, and the way he held on to me, like if he loosened his grip even a little, that I might float away.” I let out a sigh and press my hand to my forehead. “Remind me why I asked for a divorce.”

“Hey, I was never a super supporter of the idea, but if you need to know, it was because after he retired from baseball, you were supposed to spend your life together, accomplishing goals together, and having a life post sports. Then he started a business, ignored everything you said, moved you to California, and made your life miserable—even after you tried talking to him multiple times and he ignored you. One-track mind really kind of blew up your marriage.”

“Wow, thanks, Nichole.”

“You asked. Is there any way you could see yourself changing your mind?”

“I mean, possibly, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re in a place in our lives where we want different things. He’s so attached to The Jock Report and everything it represents that I couldn’t imagine him ever giving it up. And I don’t want to be in California. I don’t want to be away from you.”

“I’m not the reason you are breaking up your marriage. Stop bringing me into it.”

“I’m not using you as an excuse, Nichole.”

“You better not be, because who knows what’s going to happen to me and where I will be a year or five from now? You need to want to move back to Chicago because that’s where you want to be, not because of me.”

“I do believe it’s where I want to be.”

“Why?” Nichole asks. “If I was out of the picture, why do you want to be in Chicago?”

“Because . . .” I say softly. It’s where I had a purpose. I had a job, a role in Ryot’s life that I loved. Dates were difficult because of his popularity in Chicago, but not impossible. He made time for me. Our downtime was spent relaxing, watching movies, catching up with friends, and having fun. We talked. We argued. We made up. He heard me. It’s where I felt seen by Ryot. “Because it’s where I have my best memories. It’s the one and only place I’ve ever truly felt like I was home.”

“Do you know why?” Nichole asks. “Because you were with Ryot out here. You have your best memories in Chicago because of Ryot. Not because of me, not because of your job, and not because you love the weather—which remember, you hate. You have the best memories here because of Ryot. So do you think you would still like it here if Ryot wasn’t with you?”