The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

"I didn't bring it up earlier because I didn't think it was a big deal," Gavin said.

He wasn't clueless. If he couldn't figure out something this basic, he had no right to be in charge of a company. The truth was, he'd never given it much thought before.

Gavin had assumed Sherry might be mad for a day or two, but that would be the end of it. It never occurred to him that things would spiral out of control like this.

"Do you seriously think I'm stupid? Did you really believe I wouldn't catch on to what you've been up to?" Gavin demanded.

Yvette didn't respond. Gavin didn't have the patience to keep arguing. He climbed into his car and drove off without saying another word.

At the bar, he ordered a couple of bottles of liquor and then called Steven. "Are you free tonight? Come meet me. I'm in a bad spot."

Steven, who had just returned home hoping to spend time with his family, didn't hesitate. "I'll be there."

He turned to Jessica. "Gavin needs me. I've got to go."

from her own day, Jessica didn't have it in her to push back. "Fine."

...

private room, the sharp smell of alcohol hit

What's going on?" he

left me,"

caught off guard.

in the eye. "You heard me. It's

letting the words sink in. "After everything she put up

mention of it brought Annalise to his mind. She'd been just as patient and forgiving until she'd finally

resolved to move forward

here she was

coming, did you?" Gavin said quietly. "When it happened, thought it was just another one of her qutbursts figured pushed hard enough, she'd come

myself Sherry wasn't Annalise. She loved me. She'd never

bitter smile. "When she ignored me for two days, I thought she