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Had he really meant it when he said he’d give us one?
“Sunny?” January snapped me out of my thoughts. “Now, honey, if he didn’t tell us about you two getting together, it’s probably because he hasn’t had time.” She was reaching, and I had a feeling we both knew it. The woman wasn’t stupid.
“It’s almost been a month. In two days.” I watched March’s mom’s lips thin, and I knew she tried to mask the hurt of her oldest not sharing about his life. The ache in my chest spread, and the heaviness in my belly started to grow.
The same question bounced around in my head. Why?
“I think…” I looked around the house and tried to breathe but couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Less than a month, and there wasn’t a spot in the house I couldn’t picture March and me together, in one way or another. “I think I need a little air,” I said out loud, mostly to myself.
“Okay, honey.” January kept talking, but I didn’t hear anything as my feet took me through the living room into the kitchen.
I didn’t stop until I was outside in the backyard. I stood there, looking out at the space where we had danced under the stars and March had kissed me for the first time. My first kiss. He’d made it a point to make it special. To make all my firsts special.
March felt like he was deep under my skin. He had imprinted his essence all over my body with his touch and what I’d thought were loving hands. Now it felt like I was the butt of some joke I hadn’t known I was part of.
I heard something inside the house, but I kept looking out at the yard, toward the spot March had just promised me the day before that we would plant flowers in April. Why had he made plans like that? Why didn’t he tell his family about me?
The sound of heavy footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn’t turn to look at who it was. I didn’t need to look at him to know it was March. The air shifted around us. His familiar scent wafted in my nose, but I kept my gaze set to the yard. No matter what the things were bouncing in my head, I knew how I felt about him.
I loved him.
I always would.
“Sunny—” he started to say, and I knew whatever he came up with, if I heard him out, I’d forgive him.
And it would only set a precedence.
Add a crack to the somewhat shaky foundation up until a couple hours ago I had honestly thought was solid.
“Don’t,” I clipped quietly. He’d have an excuse. I knew this. But excuses were like assholes; everyone had one. “I’d appreciate it if you could drive me into town, since I have no way to get there, and I really don’t want to mess up the wheels of my luggage by walking five miles?—"
“Baby, look at me…. please?” My teeth mashed together. His sweet little please was my kryptonite. I forced myself to find the courage to gaze into the blue eyes that owned my heart.
How stupid can I be? I wondered to myself. I’d known this was an arrangement. A business deal. A marriage of convenience he had been forced into thanks to his grandfather. He’d been honest about that.
“I really thought you were going to give us a chance.” I had no idea how I wasn’t crying. My heart was literally cracking beneath his worried stare.
“Sunshine, I swear I was. I am. I just—" My hand rose, and he stopped talking.
“You didn’t tell anyone about us. Not your brothers. Not your parents.”
“That’s not true. I told Clay.”
“Your mom thought I broke into your house,” I hissed. Frustration and anger swirled with hurt inside my gut. “She thought I might be your housekeeper or some one-night stand that went a little psycho seeing as I was wearing your clothes!” I poked his chest. “She called the sheriff! The sheriff, March!”
“I know. I fucked up.” If I hadn’t been so angry and hurt, I would have noticed the regret in his eyes.
“I could have been arrested!”
“Babe, I will explain it to them.”
“Okay.” I stood and crossed my arms over my chest.
“What?” He frowned.
“Go. She’s still inside,” I pointed out.
“Baby.” He swallowed and ran his fingers through his dark hair. The hesitation in his actions spoke volumes.
