Chapter 48
On the path.
“Baby, I know what we discussed last night. Can we talk a little bit more about the open marriage when I get back home?” Carter started when he made it to Seattle. He’d left at the crack of dawn, waking me up with more sex, promising me we were still that team...that partnership.
Tossing my purse in the passenger seat, I bit back my annoyance before I climbed into my SUV. Of course, he didn’t really mean we could have an open marriage. He was trying to avoid Chelsea talk. “We said no rules, so there’s nothing to discuss.”
“I meant if we should even do that. It might cause too much confusion and mess. We both get jealous and have tempers.”
“You think? Cheating is never good in a relationship,” I commented sarcastically. He was being a real jock right now and not using the good common sense he was given. Backtracking like he was even going to go through with what I suggested in the first place. “Why can’t you be honest with me? Then, at least, I won’t feel like I’m being played.”
“You’re not being played. I love you. I don’t think discussing anything about Chelsea is good for our marriage. She is the past. I won’t leave you for her or another woman, so let’s move on, okay?”
“Okay.” I gritted my teeth.
“You still flying in tonight or this weekend?” He asked. This time, his tone sounded hopeful and expectant.
I pressed the ignition and replied through my speakers, “We already talked. Think I want to spend the weekend with Mama and the twins. It’s been a lot.”
“Come on, we can order room service and watch movies. We do need more time away from the children.”
“Not really up for traveling.” I drove down our long driveway to the street.
“You’re still mad.”
“Not mad. Disappointed that you can’t see we won’t survive this way.”
“We will be fine.”
“Really? Oh... then why did I sign a three-year lease on that space I wanted you to see two days ago? You were never going to agree, and I did it for me. Still think we’ll be fine since I made a major decision without you?”
He remained silent for a long time before he finally spoke again. “I will do better as a husband to support you. When I get home, I want to see your new place. Maybe we can sit together and tell me your vision for the pharmacy.”
I stared at my screen.What did he do to be so compliant with whatever I wanted?
“I can tell you’re driving. Where are you going?” Carter asked.
“I told you that I would bring Elle to meet Grey. He works at UCLA and wants me to bring her there to the track.”
He retorted, “So you and he talk on the phone now?”
“He texted me.”
Carter snapped, “Same difference.”
I blew a raspberry.
“Sorry...sorry,” he quieted down.
“You can’t have it both ways, Carter. You want to know everything I’m doing, and I can’t know the same. Because it regards your daughter, I’m telling you what’s happening. If youwant me to video or FaceTime you later when we get there, I can. As far as Elle is concerned, I’ll be transparent and keep you in the loop about everything. I won’t let him take her from you or me, okay?”
“Does that mean everything else between you and Grey is none of my business?” He asked sharply.
My pressure began to rise as I clamped down on the need to scream at him. “What do you want from me, Carter? I don’t want to fight with you. I can’t make you talk, and I can’t just let you walk all over me. I want us to be honest about everything, but you don’t want to be that way with me.”
“I do. Some things may be hard for you to forgive, okay? I need you and my children too much, and although I ache at the thought of him being around you...being around my daughter, I’m giving you that. I won’t get in the way of Elle getting to know Grey. In return, can you just trust that I fucked up in the past and it won’t happen again?”
I wanted to argue how I could trust him when I had no idea what he’d done in the first place. But he wasn’t going to divulge his secret. At least, not now. “Do you want me to FaceTime you later?”
