Making him food didn’t mean anything. It just meant I wouldn’t let anyone go hungry in my house, not even an arrogant Greek man.
I lifted the trash lid to dump the vegetable scraps and froze. There, staring up at me, were my books.
He’d thrown away my books and replaced them with his marriage propaganda.
Oh, hell no. This man has lost his entire mind.
“Aristides!” I called up the stairs.
“Yes?” His voice floated down from upstairs.
“Can you come here, please?” I didn’t bother hiding my irritation.
I reached in and pulled out the books, stacking them on the counter. The covers were smudged with coffee grounds, but otherwise intact.
“Why are my books in the trash?” I demanded when he appeared.
He stood in the kitchen doorway, all six-foot-something of Mediterranean perfection. His dark eyes flicked from the rescued books to my face.
“I disposed of them, yes.”
“You threw the books I purchased with my hard-earned money.”
“The titles, they were inaccurate for our situation,” he said with that infuriating calm. “You are not parenting alone.”
“You came into my house, went through my things, and decided what I should and shouldn’t read?”
“I ordered more suitable ones. They should arrive today.” He gestured toward my tablet. “Or we can access the digital versions immediately if you prefer.”
My vision actually went red around the edges. “Get out.” I pointed towards the front door. “Out of my house. Out of my space. OUT!”
“You do not mean this.” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t move a muscle, just stood there looking at me like I was overreacting.
“Try me.”
We stared at each other in a silent standoff.
“I am not leaving.” His voice was flat now, final.
“Fine.” I snatched my purse from the island. “Then I will.”
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere you’re not!”
I stormed toward the door, but he stepped in front of it, blocking my exit.
“Move, Aris.”
“Let Markos drive you, yes?” he responded. “I do not want you driving in your current emotional state.” His eyes dropped briefly to my stomach.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“You can go wherever you wish. I want to ensure you and our children, you arrive safely.” The way he said our children brought an unwelcome pang to my chest, but I pushed it down.
I glared at him, then at the keys in my hand. Kandi’s place was a good twenty-minute drive across town. “Fine. But I’m not coming back until you’re gone.”
“I am not leaving.” Aris pulled his phone from his pocket and spoke rapidly in Greek before switching back to English.
