---- him about what he said. Instead, I sat on the couch and declared, "I didn't make any lunch. If you haven't had anything to eat yet, you're going to have to order in." While he was changing into house slippers, he explained, "Everyone was having too much fun last night. They wouldn't let me leave, so I ended up sleeping at the hotel." Zeke often stayed out late and didn't return home until the next day, but he'd never explained anything to me before. Ihummed in response and continued watching my television program. When he was done changing into his house slippers, he walked over and took a seat on the couch. "When are you planning to leave the country?" he asked with a frown. ---- "Next Monday," I replied. "Tickets have already been bought." Aside from the noises from the television, the room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Zeke was the one who broke the silence first. He turned to look at me and said emotionally, "I think we should talk, Joanna. I can't take it anymore. The way we're interacting with each other is killing me." I stared at him with a quizzical look on my face. " What's wrong with it?" Prior to this, he'd constantly ask me to be more sensible and mature. So, why was he upset that I was complying with his request? Frowning, he asked, ''Are you doing this because of Scarlett?" When I didn't reply, he continued, "If my relationship with her is what's making you ---- unhappy, I can cut ties with her." "Please don't act so indifferent toward me," he pleaded. He was looking at me with a hopeful and eager expression. He probably assumed he'd just made a grand decision. "You're reading too much into this," I said in an unhurried manner. "I've actually made my peace with it. You have the right to befriend whoever you want. I have no say in that matter." I didn't expect it to be that easy for him to suggest cutting ties with Scarlett. In the past, no matter how big of a fuss I made, he'd never thought about ending his friendship with her. He wouldn't even do it when I said I wanted to break up with him. He froze and stared at me with a firm gaze. "I'm making a huge compromise here. If you don't believe me, I'll call her right now."