Tanya snorted. “I’d better be a damn bridesmaid when this situationship gets legalized, because I just know your bridal party will be doing all sorts of cool shit.”
Selena laughed. “Me too. We could have one of those fancy spa days.”
They giggled, teasing. I still hadn’t told them I was already married. “There isn’t any wedding talk right now, but we could still do the spa day. I’m sure Axel would pay.”
Tanya’s eyes widened. “I have to get a babysitter. Give me lots of notice!”
“Let me know, and I’ll book something,” I promised.
A few days later,I was sitting in the living room on the couch, looking outside at strong winds and October rain coming down in sheets.
I had finished my math homework with Oleg already, and I’d sent Jordan home after he put a casserole in the fridge because I was worried about him driving in the storm.
Was Bandit out in the rain? Was his owner walking him in this bad weather? Had he gotten Bandit a raincoat? I had bought Bandit a red, hooded raincoat for exactly these kinds of nights. It felt like if I got rid of his stuff, I was giving up on him. But it made me sad each time I saw his box of toys, or his little sweaters and coats stacked in my room.
Axel appeared behind me in the reflection of the glass.
“How’s it going with Oleg at school?”
I didn’t turn around. “Fine.”
“Are you caught up with your classes?”
“Yeah.” I turned around and looked at him. He was wearing a beautiful suit and holding an elegant coat on one arm. “Are you going out?”
He thought about his answer for a moment, almost hesitant to respond. “It’s a boring dinner with clients, but it’s at Joule, which is a really nice French restaurant. I don’t have to leave for an hour yet. Are you interested in joining me?”
The last time I’d gone out with him, he had ordered me to attend. Tonight he was asking if that was something I wanted.
I didn’t have it in me to get dressed up, go outside in the rain and fake small talk with a bunch of men I didn’t know. “Not tonight.”
An expression passed his face so quickly I almost missed it, but it looked like sadness. Not anger or frustration, just a small resignation.
That shocked me.
“Did Jordan leave you something to eat?”
“There’s a casserole in the fridge for me to heat up.”
“Do you want me to cancel dinner? I’m worried about you being alone.”
I stared at my husband and, for a moment, wanted nothing more than to curl up with him. But I knew that wasn’t what he wanted and he would only be doing it out of guilt.
“You don’t have to.”
“What can I do?”
I remembered my conversation with my friends. “Would I be able to take Selena and Tanya to a fancy spa day?”
He looked relieved. “I’ll rent the whole damn place out for you if you want.”
I gave him a ghost of a smile. “Thanks, but just a normal trip is good enough.”
“Go crazy. Give yourselves the best spa day money can buy.”
The girls were going to love it. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
He looked like he was about to say something else, but he just gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hope you have a good night.”
