I shrug.“I would then have a talk with your father and brothers, asking for their advice on how to more tightly take you in hand, since you’re being defiant.I’m sure point one will be all of your family banding together and ordering you to obey me, stay home, and quit working.”I laugh.“Imagine the pile-on your sisters will instigate over that.”I chef’s kiss in her direction.“And your brothers-in-law, too.”I sarcastically shake my head.“You know they will.”
I level a dark gaze at her at the next stoplight.“I mean, wecango there, if youreallywant to.It means your entire freaking family will be crawling up your ass for you to quit your job and do your wifely duty submitting to me.You will come off as the bad guy, the bad wife—the badChristian.They will blame you for not trying hard enough, and I will be the one they side with.Youreallywant to go there with me, Olivia?Or you want to, for onefuckingtime, cut me some slack, here?”
She swallows hard and shuts up.
That’s life with Olivia Madison Callahan, née Smith.It’s like hand-to-hand combat with an enemy soldier.
Don’t tell me I didn’t learn anything from my father—I learned the art of taking no prisoners just fine, thank you very much.
Which is something she doesn’t realize about me.She sees only one side of me.She literally cannot comprehend that I’m gay, because in her world, that doesn’t happen.And I’ve spent plenty of time around her father, brothers, and brothers-in-law shooting the shit with them.I have excellent camouflage and am also fluent in Evangelical Redneck.I fit in.
She thinks she knows me, but she doesn’t know anything about me.Not at all.Not really.
That’s why I let her think I have no teeth.
So that when I do have to bite her, she remembers the lesson well, and backs down quickly, just like her parents taught her.
Then I can once again settle into being a compliant pet she can drag around on his leash whenever she wants.
God, I hate my fucking life.
And I hate my fucking wife.
