“Fuck that. I’ve got a right to be here, because you’re my fucking wife.”
On second thought, maybe she’s forgotten that.
She scoffs and drops down onto the sofa, and I take a step back, angry, searching for words.
“I waited for you,” I admit, breathing erratically. “I sat in that fucking office today, staring at the door, thinking you’d put all our shit aside and just… walk in. Because you knew it’d be hard as hell. Because even when shit’s bad, we’re still us at our core. Still in each other’s corner. Then, I seethis.”
The anger is alive and well, but a new emotion suddenly feels more powerful.
Sadness.
I feel like a fucking idiot.
For putting her on a pedestal, for thinking she’d be there.
For letting her get away.
“West, it… that picture isn’t what it looks like,” she breathes, and my gaze lifts from the carpet to meet hers.
“You sure? Because it looks like Seth has his fucking hands on you.”
Frustrated, she sighs as her eyes slam shut. “Yes, he hugged me, but the… the context is all wrong.”
I want to fly off the handle again, but I hold back, staring as she thinks.
“I was on my way to your appointment, but I got a call. There was trouble at the center.”
She swipes a tear and, fuck me… my chest tightens.
“An inspector showed up unexpectedly, threatening to shut us down if we don’t bring a bunch of electrical stuff up to code,” she says. “Honestly, I don’t remember half of what he called out because I was so distraught, but… it was bad.Reallybad.”
I can’t stop staring at her, seeing her as that teenage girl I fell head over heels for. After months of giving her hell, of course. But even through the bad we endured in the beginning, I loved her.
Despite myself…I loved her.
“I was almost to your appointment when I had to turn around to get to the center.”
There’s a strange feeling in my gut when she says this. Maybe because I’d convinced myself she didn’t care.
“I—I started to call and explain, but we haven’t really spoken, so it felt… weird, I guess? But I need you to know I was coming to you, West.” She swipes tears from her cheeks. “I wouldn’t have let you go through that alone.”
The next second, without further explanation, I’m on the couch next to her, holding her to my chest. Her arms slip around my waist, and I close my eyes, soaking in the feel of her being so close.
I missed this.
So fucking much.
“And I’m sorry you had to see that picture,” she sniffles. “I should’ve called and explained, but I thought you’d know it wasn’t what Pandora was making it out to be.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re right. I should’ve known.”
And I should’ve.
Only, my emotions have gotten the best of me lately, I’m tense all the time, ready to snap at the smallest things.
“I was standing outside the center, having a moment because I was just so… overwhelmed,” she says. “I think Seth was trying to be helpful, but he just kind of… overstepped.”
I don’t respond, because I’m feeling pretty stupid right now, thinking for one second that she’d act so out of character, because my girl’s loyal.
