I set them in my lap, staring down at them. Wow. He didn’t forget after all. I thought he totally had.
And now he’s sitting here, all handsome in his boxer shorts and ratty old Nolan U T-shirt, and he’s handing me sweet gifts and a handmade card, and… all I can do is sniff. My eyes flood with tears before I can stop them.
“Sparks?” His tender voice is laced with worry, and I have to tell him. I have to tell him right now.
Looking up, I lean into his palm when he cups my cheek and whimper. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?” The poor guy is looking really freaked out, so I quickly slash the tears off my cheeks and sit up properly, pulling myself together.
“Don’t worry, I’m not dying,” I assure him with a watery laugh.
“But something is definitely wrong,” he murmurs. “You’ve been off lately, Sen, and I really want to know why.”
Dipping my head with a groan, I let my hair provide a curtain around me as I quickly spit out the major thing that’s bothering me. “Davis kissed me yesterday.”
There’s a small pause as Zander takes that in… and then comes the explosive “What?!”
“I know.” I look up at him, resting my hand on his taut forearm.
“He fucking kissed you? When? Where? What the fuck happened?” His volume increases with each question, and I stroke his arm to try and quiet him.
Biting my bottom lip for a second, I pull in a breath, then calmly explain. “It was after our gym session. He tried to give me a red rose and—” Zander opens his mouth with a scowl, butI hold up my finger to stop him. “I told him I already have a valentine, and although it was really sweet, I didn’t want it. Then he just kind of boxed me in against the lockers and tried to sell me on how great we are together.”
Zander’s nostrils flare, his jaw clenching so tight I can practically hear his teeth grinding.
“I reminded him that he’s married, and then he said, ‘They wouldn’t have to know.’” I put on a mocking voice, my scorn ripe and real. “And then he just leaned in and kissed me. When I opened my mouth to protest, he shoved his tongue in there and—bluch!” I stick out my tongue. “It was so gross, Zander.”
My husband growls. “I can’t believe that asshole. What the fuck is wrong with him?” He’s still snapping and growling like an angry bear.
In contrast, my voice is soft and wispy. “I’m so gutted, you know? Because I really loved training with him. He was funny and he challenged me, and I was getting great results. But now he’s gone and ruined it, and I’m furious with him and—” My face crumples, fresh tears lining my lashes.
Zander lets out one more huffing breath before his shoulders slump.
Giving him a second, I watch him work through his annoyance before touching his arm again.
He glances up, his look of sympathy mixed with a touch of fury both sexy and sweet. “I’m sorry he did that to you.” Running his hand up my thigh, he gives it a tender squeeze.
“I know it was just a kiss and I can shake it off, but?—”
“Don’t use the wordjustlike this isn’t a big deal.” His eyebrows dip into a sharp V. “That asshole violated your space. He took without permission. He crossed a line, and you have every right to be pissed off and upset about it.” His growl is gruff and primal, but his touch is soft when he reaches for my face,brushing his thumb over my cheek and whispering, “Why didn’t you call me? I would have dropped everything to?—”
“I know.” I smile at him, then try to ease this tension with a joke. “Davis might be a butthead, but he doesn’t need a broken nose, and you don’t need any charges pressed against you.”
He snickers and shakes his head. “He deserves a broken nose. Asshole. Kissing my woman. I mean, what the actual fuck?”
“I know, baby,” I console him, brushing my hand down his arm. “But I pushed him away. Told him I never want to see him again and…” I sigh, my chest filling with that heavy cloud I can’t seem to shake. “That’s what I’m really upset about.” I sniff, finally getting to this thing that’s been festering inside me for weeks… months.
Zander lets me go, his head jerking back in confusion. “You’re upset that you can’t see him again?”
Oh shit, he looks so wounded. I reach for his hand, shaking my head. “That’s not what I’m saying. I don’t care that I’ll never seehimagain. I’m just gutted that this one thing I was doing… this thing that was helping ease all of this…” I pat my stomach, not even sure what to call it.
“All of this what?” Zander frowns.
“This angst inside me.” I wrestle to explain. “The gym was easing that, you know? And now I can’t go backthere.And I’ll have to find someone else to work with, and I just… I… I…” I let out a pathetic little whimper and run my hand into my hair.
“Baby, what’s going on here? Help me understand this. Please.”
My shoulders slump and I take his thumb, curling my fingers around it, then playing with his other digits as I speak. “I don’t even know if I can explain it. I’m just… feeling really lost right now. Ever since Olly started kindergarten, I’ve just been… trying to figure out where I fit. I was always Mom, you know? That wasmy role, and now… we’re not having any more kids… and… what am I supposed to do?”
