“Well,” I grumbled and crossed my arms, pretending that the whole text exchange never happened because it was none of his business. “It’s not thatyou’re wrong about the working on Saturday night thing. You’re just not always right. I do have Saturday nights off sometimes.”
“I’m sure you do,” he encouraged with a smile.
“We were short staffed tonight so I didn’t have a choice.”
His smile dipped a fraction. Or, maybe the shadows were playing games with my eyes.
“Short staffed? Is everyone okay?”
My thoughts shifted to the girls immediately, and my worry dug its claws in deeper.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled honestly. “I hope so.”
He was silent for a few beats, his eyes watching me like he was afraid I’d either flee or have a total premenstrual level breakdown. Joke’s on him— my whole life was a never ending season of Shark Week.
“Come on. Let me buy you some dinner.”
“I’m not in the mood for chili dogs, Batman.”
“Okay, we will get some ramen then.”
“Joe, seriously, I’m not–”
“Please.” His voice rose above mine.
I chewed my bottom lip as we stared at each other. I really wasn’t in the mood for company. The way his golden retriever tail wagged as it begged to please me was too much to bear, though. He could see I was distressed, and he wanted to help.
That’s what a normal husband would do,that stupid voice of mine whispered.Imagine what it would be like to have a good guy comfort you.
And with that, the words slipped free before I could think twice about it. “Alright,” I conceded with a sigh. “But you’re buying, and I eata lotwhen I’m stressed.”
“I assumed you didn’t have any money and I would have to pay anyway.” Joe took me under his arm with a crooked smile and guided me toward the food strip. “Besides. I come from mega money, remember? Ramen costs pennies from my mountain of gold.”
“Careful, Batman. Keep swinging your dick around like that and you may take out a building.”
“I’d settle for a sarcastic stripper.”
I laughed, but the sound didn’t come from my belly like it should have.
As if Joe could tell, his own laughter died down and he cleared his throat, seeming content to walk the rest of the way in a tense silence. At least I’d hoped so.
We walked the busy streets toward my favorite noodle joint. Joe’s arm stayed wrapped around my shoulders, holding me tight in a warm sheet of comfort. A protector by nature.
It felt… nice.
Joe’s arm tensed right before his voice invaded my thoughts. “Can I ask you something?”
I hummed a half answer.
“Why did you leave?”
“What?” I went from disinterested to on high alert.
“I thought we had a good night together, and then…” Joe ran a hand through his hair boyishly, dancing around the intimate nature of his question. It felt so at odds with the aggressive way he fucked me.
“Then what?”
“Then I went to the kitchen to make you breakfast and when I came back, you were just gone.”
