The apartment was quiet except for the sound of drawers opening and the clack of hangers.
Nicky stood barefoot in front of the wardrobe, slipping on a pale blue dress shirt. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his jaw clenched as he fastened each button.
Eliana sat up in bed, the blanket around her shoulders. Her eyes followed him, catching the tightness in his back and the careful pace of his movements.
"You want me to come?" she asked softly.
He paused mid-button, not turning around. "No, baby. Not this one."
"Because of the press or—?"
He turned, brushing the wrinkles from his cuff. "Because they're not good company."
Her mind flashed back to a few weeks ago, when Alexandra asked why she'd never been invited to one of their family dinners.
Eliana had turned to Nicky and asked, "When are you going to introduce me?"
He'd looked at her, the question clearly hitting a nerve. After a long pause, he said, "It's not the right time."
