Page 99 of The Substitute Fiancée

She nods and disappears into the bedroom.

I stand there for five minutes, not knowing what to do to bridge the gap between us. I still haven’t found an answer when I force myself to join her.

When I slide into bed, she’s turned on her side, her back to me. I don’t know whether she’s asleep or pretending.

And in the darkness, separated by those few centimeters that feel like miles, I wonder how to close this distance.

How to find my way back to her.

How to show her that she really matters.

Even if our story is starting at the worst possible moment.

*

The next day, an idea comes to me during a meeting.

The canvases.

She lost her canvases. I can buy her new ones.

It’s concrete. Tangible. Something I can do.

At lunch break, I skip the meal and head to an art supply store.

I buy ten of them, in different sizes.

When I get home that evening, Emelyne has already left.

“You’re home early,” Sam observes hesitantly, even though it’s already past six.

“Yes. I made a few purchases. I’ll be right back.”

She frowns, intrigued. God, she’s beautiful. I want to take her in my arms, to kiss her, to close the gap between us. But I stop just before touching her. I haven’t earned that right back yet.

I go back to the car and carry the canvases in five at a time. When I’m done, they’re stacked against the living room wall.

Sam brushes a canvas with her fingertips. The silence is so thick I can hear the paper rustle beneath her hand. Her expression is unreadable.

That silence burns.

“You bought… canvases for me.”

“Yes. I thought that… you’d need them. For your project.”

And suddenly, I feel stupid.

I should have taken her with me. Let her choose.

But I didn’t think. I wanted to do something for her. So I acted.

“I know they’ll never replace what you lost,” I say. “But they’ll help you make new ones. If they don’t work, we can exchange them… or choose others together. I—”

“Alexander.”

Her voice is soft. Calm.

“I just wanted to do something,” I whisper. “I’m not trying to buy your forgiveness.”