This isn’t happening.
For reasons unknown to me, I could freely fuck Rory into oblivion. But with Chloe, it would be like stabbing a dagger into Skyla’s soul. Yes, Rory is not a great choice either. Skyla would not be amused in the least. But with Rory there is something of Skyla’s she could offer me. I drifted away from perfection a hell of a long time ago. But with Chloe, that would be sinking far below the bottom rung. It’s bad enough I want Skyla to think I’ve settled there long ago. It would be hell for me to actually do that to her.
Some marriages don’t work out. Maybe a big fat divorce is what’s in the cards for Chloe and me. I needed Chloe to spur Skyla on—the stone in which Skyla could sharpen her fury, fight for what’s right when it comes to her people. What would happen if Chloe and I fell apart?
“I need to think about things.” I stand up and spill her out of my lap as I head out the door, but Chloe dashes down the stairs right next to me.
“You’re not going anywhere,” she riots as I snatch the keys to my truck off the table.
“I’ll be back. I’ll bring breakfast. I just need some fresh air. Last night was trying.”
“The hell it was,” she shouts, her bare chest bouncing and rippling along with her anger.
I can hear my mother stirring down the hall.
“Keep it down,” I whisper. “The baby is sleeping. I said I’d be back.”
I turn to leave, and she employs her Celestra strength to spin me back around.
My mother traipses down the hall.
“What’s going on? Is everything all right?” She steps into the kitchen, takes one look at Chloe’s naked frame, and recoils. “Oh God.” She scuttles back into the hall, but I can feel her lingering there, still waiting for the answers we never gave.
“Get some clothes on. I said I’ll be back,” I roar it out as I speed for the door.
“No! You are my husband, and you will act like it, dammit.” She throws herself over the exit, her chest palpitating with rage.
I simply open the door and head out into the briny fog, taste the salt on my lips, the chilled air in my lungs as if reminding myself I’m still here, alive, fighting for what I believe. And even though people think I’ve become the antithesis of who I once was, it’s not true. I am still exactly the same.
Chloe bolts down the porch and follows me all the way to my truck, giving me a hard shove away from the door.
“You don’t get to walk out on me because you’re afraid to face your fears. Get over yourself, Gage!” Her naked body ripples with rage long after she’s belted the words out. “You owe me, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to make you pay up. Get upstairs right now. I’m not putting up with your shit anymore.”
A couple strides by, walking a dog. They look up with a friendly smile already on their faces right before they go blank and take off in a rush.
“You’re causing a scene, Chloe.”
“I don’t give a shit. I will get in front of your truck. You will have to run me over to get away from me!” she thunders so loud a car alarm goes off down the street. “I have news for you, Gage Oliver. You’re not in the driver’s seat anymore. I am. I’m all done letting you lick your wounds, lick your balls.” A devious smile curves on her lips. “It’s my turn to lick them, Gage. And once you see how happy I can make you, how satisfied you’ll be, only then will you truly be healed. Come upstairs with me. Let me heal you.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out. It’s a text from Wes.
Did you hear? Shit just hit the fan. I’m coming over.
I glance across the street at his house. I don’t need to add Wes to this circus.
“Fine,” I say to Chloe. “I’m not running you over. I’ll leave on foot. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
I push past Chloe and take off for Wesley’s house.
“Get back here!” Her voice curdles into the sky like a terror. “You don’t get to decide our fate! I do!”
But I keep walking at a quickened clip, my feet deciding their own destiny.
“You’ll regret this!” she screams after me.
Oh, honey, I already do.
27
