AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why not?”
I didn’t have an answer. “What if he has it because he doesn’t fully trust me? Why else would he have a backup plan? If he needs an escape route, maybe we shouldn’t get married in the first place.”
“Hale trusts you, Ray. But he has a lot of assets and divorce can get really messy.”
“Gee, thanks.” This conversation wasn’t helping. I wiped my eyes and stared over the box of mini cakes at the bedroom door, my feet under my knees. “This isn’t like him. We both have to travel this week. Where is he?”
“He’s angry. Give him time.”
I didn’t have time. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to New York with me?”
“Ray, I can’t.”
“Are you sure? Barrett’s there on an underwear shoot.”
“I can’t.”
I sighed, hating how needy I felt at the moment. “There’s something else I have to tell you.”
“What?” Elle asked uneasily.
“I contacted my dad.”
“Rayne, no!”
“I know, I know. But it doesn’t matter. He didn’t respond and I’m over it. I just couldn’t get married without at least trying.”
She sighed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I sniffed and dashed away a tear. “I’ll be okay. I know the drill.” A few days of feeling bad for myself, a week of eating my feelings, then anger, then distraction. “Look at it this way, when I get to the angry stage, you could probably get me to take one of those kickboxing classes at the gym with you.”
She didn’t laugh and neither did I. “Did you tell Hale?”
“There’s nothing to tell.” I was a big, fat, secret-keeping hypocrite.
“Maybe that’s why you were so prickly with him this afternoon.”
My head snapped up when I heard the front door open.
“Hale’s home. I have to go.”
“Have a safe trip to New York. Text me when you land.”
“I will. Bye.” I tossed my phone under the covers and stared at the door, waiting for Hale to appear. When he didn’t, I frowned and climbed out of bed. At the top of the stairs, I heard him listening to something on his phone.
I tiptoed down and paused at the landing when I saw him sitting on the couch. “Hale.”
He seemed to purposely avoid looking at me. “I’m tired, Rayne.”
His rejection hit like a bullet to the chest. “Are you coming to bed?”
He sighed and shut off his phone, dousing the house in silence.
I waited several seconds for him to move or speak, but he stayed quiet.
“Hale, I never should have said what I said. I’m sorry.”
His head shook, but he didn’t look at me. He just stayed seated on the couch. “Have I ever made an issue out of your financial circumstances?”
