Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
A week. He’ll miss our anniversary.
You’re a foolish woman.
Why do you care anymore? Because someone has to.
My anger spikes. “You’re leaving? For a week?” I ask, shaking my head at his downright incredulous behavior. “It’s our anniversary, Shawn. I understand we seem to be heading in vastly different directions without love for each other, but once upon a time, we did love. I still do. And if you have one ounce of love left for me, you’ll ensure we spent our anniversary together.”
There’s a flicker of remorse before it dissolves, hardened eyes now staring back at me. When he doesn’t respond, I continue, straightening my shoulders in defiance, “If this is how you want it, fine. I won’t be here when you come back.” I push off the fridge and take to the stairs two at a time when I hear him following close behind. I quicken my pace wanting to be as far away from him as possible. I reach the bedroom, and as I go to slam the door behind me, he jars it open with his shoe.
I spin to face him with all my fury. His large body fills the space, his broad chest heaving. We’re both angry but for very different reasons.
“Don’t make rash decisions, Blythe.”
I take a step forward and push against his chest. When he doesn’t move, I do it again, this time, a pained scream escapes my lips, tears blurring my vision. When I go to hit a third time, he wraps his fingers around my wrists and turns me so my back is against his chest. He restrains me by wrapping strong arms around mine. Shawn breaths heavily against my cheek, his lips tasting my tears. When I struggle, he tightens, and for a moment we’re caught in a bittersweet embrace. We haven’t been this physically close in almost a year and now that we are, it’s simply due to hurting one another. His hold becomes less about restraint and more nurture, if only for the briefest of moments. My legs grow weak, and he lowers me gently to the floor where I sob quietly. Black-stained tears falling on my hand tell me my mascara is running, but I don’t care.
“How can I change your mind?” I whisper.
“You can’t.”
“Then we’re finished, Shawn. I don’t ever want to see you again.” I say the last few words with as much authority as I can muster.
“Give me until I get back, we can talk then.”
I shake my head. “No. I’ve given you a year…” I breathe in heavily. “A whole fucking year of being treated worse than a stranger, of not being touched, of not being loved by my husband. I didn’t choose this life, Shawn. And I don’t choose this life for when you decide to come back.”
He crouches next to me, his hand gently tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.
I’m helpless to stop him.
“Give me a week, and I’ll come back and explain. Just one week.” He thinks when I don’t answer that he’s won. He hasn’t. I simply choose to no longer fight. Shawn moves to the edge of the bed, and I wipe angrily at my cheeks. “But perhaps you could explain something to me.”
When I don’t answer, he takes it as his cue to continue. I don’t owe him any explanation… for anything. “Tell me why Kane Alexander was at your office today.”
I would have normally laughed it off had it not been for his accusatory tone.
“Kane Alexander came to see me of his own free will. I had nothing to do with it.”
“So, why was he there, Blythe? It’s a simple question that should come with a simple answer.”
The nerve of him. My hardened stare meets his. “What are you implying? That I’m cheating?”
“Not my words.”
“You asshole.” I push to my feet, kick off my heels and turn on the bathroom light. I stand in front of the mirror staring at my ruined makeup and bloodshot eyes. I’m a mess, inside and out.
Shawn stands at the door, his face meeting mine in the mirror. “He was at your office today and you arrive home with a very expensive bouquet of flowers. What am I to think?”
“It’s nice that someone cared enough to buy me flowers, Shawn.”
His palm slams against the door and I jump with fright. “This isn’t a joke, Blythe.”
“Do you see me laughing?”
“Why was Kane Alexander at your office today?”
I want to ask how he knows I had a visitor but my husband is already too riled up.
“Not that it’s any of your concern, but Kane visited today because he wants me to redesign one of his businesses.”
His face pales. “Which one?”
I turn, folding my arms in annoyance. “I don’t know, Shawn. He didn’t say. His assistant is sending through the specs.”
He takes a moment, allowing my words to sink in.