“Last year,” I say. “In Dr. Brett’s office. You said sleeping with me was disgusting.” My jaw tightens. “I thought you were just angry. But maybe it was true.”
“No,” she says immediately.
Lore takes my hand in both of hers, forcing me to look at her. “No, okay? That wasn’t the truth. I was angry. I was hurt. I thought you lied to me on purpose.”
“I didn’t-”
“I know,” she says quickly. “I know that now. That’s not it.” She exhales shakily. “Last year we fell apart. Completely. And I just-” Her grip tightens. “I don’t want that to happen again.”
Something in my chest loosens. God, just the thought that she still found me repulsive was enough to bury me alive.
I lean back against a pillow and pull her with me, settling her against my chest. She fits there without hesitation.
“We don’t have to have sex, Lore,” I say quietly. “I didn’t come here for that.”
She tilts her head up, eyebrow lifting. “Fine. I didn’tjustcome here for that.” A small smile curves her mouth. “I came here to spend time with you. To hold your hand.”
I lace our fingers together, thumb brushing over her knuckles. “It’s been fun, sneaking around but…” I trail off, suddenly unsure how to say it without sounding like I’m asking for too much.
“You want to tell everyone,” she finishes gently, like she’s reading my thoughts.
I nod. “Yeah. I want the world to know you’re still my wife.” My finger drifts to the chain at her neck, lightly tracing it. “I want my ring on your finger. Not hanging from a necklace.”
Her teeth catch the side of her lip, worrying it. I immediately regret pushing.
“We don’t have to,” I add quickly. “I was just… throwing it out there.”
She studies me for a moment, then says, “How about we tell them after Milo’s birthday?”
I consider it. “What if,” I say slowly, “we tell everyone we’re bringing dates to his birthday.” I smirk. “Only it’s each other.”
She laughs. “That’s so mean.” Then she gives me a look. “And you really want to put our kid in the middle of that?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Yeah. No. Bad idea.” I sigh. “Even though it would be kind of amazing watching my parents try to figure out who we brought.”
She snorts.
“How about this,” she says like a negotiation. “The day after his birthday, we take everyone to brunch. We tell them then. Thatway it doesn’t interfere with his party, and he still gets a little surprise.”
I smile with my teeth. “That his parents are back together.”
She smiles wider. “That his dad’s coming home.”
I’m coming home. I look away, throat tight.
One downside of therapy is that it’s turned me into a complete pussy. Only with my family, though. If I cried at work, I’d have to kill myself.
She turns fully toward me, knee sliding over my thigh as she settles closer. “Just one more month of sneaking around, huh?”
I nod. “Looks like it.”
She smiles, soft and conspiratorial. “Guess we better make the best of it.”
Then she leans in and kisses me.
It’s slow, sensual. When she pulls back just enough to speak, her lips brush mine as she whispers, “You know… I’ve never been to just second base with you.”
I smirk against her mouth. “Justsecond base?”
