“It’s probably stuffed full of parking tickets,” he adds before disappearing.
After the boomeranging five million, I’d arranged for the McLaren to be delivered to the front of her building, once the ownership was transferred into her name.
A lot of angry texts were received that day.
My gut cramps as I step inside the house, my skin suddenly cool.The evening air or anticipation?Fear, more like. I’m exhausted, and my shoulders feel weighted down. Worry now that she’s here. Not that I’ve gotten her here.
Am I stupid for thinking I might get away with this?
Fuck it. Lavender refused to apply for a parking permit, beautiful but stubborn woman she is. I’m told by Primrose and Polly that the parking tickets have been mounting up, though I doubt they’d have a kind word to say to me if they knew the truth. But then there’s also Brin, the man who has every right to gloat but hasn’t.
They all say the same. She’s hurting. She’ll come around. She loves deeply.
Give her time.
I want to give her everything, but every night she isn’t in my bed,our bed, she feels further away from me.
I put down my glass as I hear the front door open. It doesn’t slam, out of deference for Daisy’s sleep only, I understand.
“You… twat!”
The dining room door swings open, and I duck as something narrowly misses my head. A half-empty plastic water bottle,judging by theswish, crinkle,andthudas it hits the wall, then the floor.
I turn to her, my heart in my throat. “I see you’ve come dressed for bed.”
She glances down, her eyes rising blue and fiery, like the flame of a Bunsen burner.
“You wish.”
“Always. I’ve missed you, princess. The loss comes in waves. Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning for the want of you.”
“I… haven’t missed you,” she retorts with an imperial chin lift.
You’d think it would be hard to be dignified while wearing fluffy striped pajamas, but somehow, my wife manages it.
“I haven’t missed you one bit, you managing, finagling, interfering shithead!”
I feel myself frown. “Those are probably the least of what I am. I’m also besotted, head over heels in love with you, and missing you like I would miss a limb.”
Her eyes narrow, and she fumes. I can’t say I’ve ever watched anyone fume before.
“Love is so inconvenient, right, princess?”
Lavender huffs her agreement, her hands balling into fists by her thighs.
“Because it makes you want to put that somebody first. You want them to be happy above everything else. You told me you loved him once, remember?”
My princess scoffs. “Yeah, and you knew it wasn’t true.”
“Even before you did, I imagine.”
“And that’s what makes you a colossal turd! Tod told me he loved me tonight.”
“Was it everything you ever imagined?”
“You rotten, horrible bastard. You played with his emotions!”
“No, I think I helped him.” Helped him realize she wasn’t for him by the strength of her reactions, her response. I expect his heart curled up and hid behind his lungs. But he’ll recover.
