“All we’re saying is that he is entitled to not want to be married.”
“Entitlement is his problem,” Mother argued.
“Areal manwould never announce no shit like that in public. He’d have enough respect for his wife to do it in private.” My stepfather slams his fist into the palm of his hand.
“My sonisa real man,” Mrs. Scott says through gritted teeth, causing her pale face to turn bright red.
“Your sonisa damn fool,” Mama shouts.
The commotion goes on as my parents and his go back and forth across the table.
The entire time they argued, I sat in silence, trying to wrap my mind around tonight’s announcement. It’s as if my brain understands the definition of those four words, but it can’t compute what they mean all together.
Scanning the many faces around me, I take in everyone else’s reactions. Andrew’s sister is going back and forth with him. It seems this news completely shocked her. I don’t doubt she didn’t know about it. She and I were actually good friends. The few other faces at the table were mostly Andrew’s friends and their wives. They all seem to look uncomfortable.
The last person I look to is Mitchell Miller. Mitch is Andrew’s oldest and best friend. They’ve known each other since they were little boys. They grew up like brothers.
I watch as Mitch glares at Andrew. Those gray-blue eyes sparking with anger. As if he could tell I was looking at him, he turned to me, and his eyes immediately softened. That look of pity in his gaze is familiar. It isn’t the first time he has looked at me like that. Mitch has been around for all the difficulties of this marriage.
“Everyone quiet,” Andrew shouts, and the arguing immediately stopped.
He turns his gaze to me. “Ella, say something. Don’t just sit there.”
It’s just like him to demand I give him what he wants. He’s always felt like I owed him everything. Like I should be so grateful that he ever gave me the fucking time of day. Well, tonight I’m going to be selfish. Tonight, I will not relieve his guilt.
He wants me to get emotional, maybe even curse him out and make a scene. He could then justify this shitty announcement. No, I’m not giving him that.
Standing abruptly, I push my chair back, smooth down the front of my dress, and place my napkin on my plate before walking away.
“Ella. Ella.” Everyone calls out behind me, but I don’t stop.
“Real dick move, Andrew,” April, Andrew’s sister, shouts. “You could’ve waited to do this when you got home.”
I don’t hear his reply or what else is said, because I rush out of the secluded dining area.
Needing fresh air away from the fine dining restaurant I booked for this bullshit, I find solace outside. The irony isn’t lost on me that I’m storming out of the restaurant I madereservations for in order to set this night up for his ungrateful ass.
Staring up at the night sky, I run through the entire fifteen years of my marriage in my head, trying to find the exact moment where I could’ve warranted this. I did everything I thought a wife should do. I allowed him to lead, making his word law in our house, even when I didn’t always agree.
There wasn’t a single time when he wanted sex that I didn’t comply. I sucked and fucked him regularly. He was the only one allowed to turn down sex. I was the perfect example of a faithful and dutiful wife. And yet it still wasn’t enough.
His scent hits me before he even speaks. If they bottled-up hard-working man and sold it, this is what it would smell like. A little cedar mixed with a trace of leather and a dash of bergamot.
I knew he would come. He always comes after me.
“I don’t want to talk, Mitch.”
He steps up beside me. His towering six-foot-four height cast me in shadows.
“I didn’t say we needed to talk. I’m just here, El.” I smile at the nickname he gave me in high school.
“Did you know? Did he mention it to you?”
“No.” That simple word is spat out. “You know he and I have been at odds a lot lately. He doesn’t talk to me as much anymore.”
I knew that. They had a disagreement a few months ago. Neither would tell me what it was about. I’ve tried to fix things between them because Mitch is the godfather to our two boys. However, I've been unsuccessful.
“Fifteen years of marriage,” I huff fighting back the tears that try to break free. “I won’t lie and say that it was all perfect. Hell, we only got married because AJ came along. But I’ve tried to be a good wife. Maybe I wasn’t...”
