“Thought I’d take a personal day, get some work done at home and catch up with the guys at the office tomorrow.”
I nodded as I grabbed a fruit bar for my drive to the gallery.
“Hopefully you get some rest. I, unfortunately, will not know that luxury for the next few weeks.”
He nodded silently as he stood from his chair and slowly made his way over to me.
“I bet… The big day is almost here. The art exhibit that everyone in the entire region can’t wait to visit.”
I let out a small smile as I poured the now-finished tea into my mug.
Adding a bit of honey, I forced myself not to be skittish or flinch as his hand rested on the small of my back. Hiding my hesitancy, I spoke with a sigh.
“I’m excited and extremely nervous.”
He hummed as he grabbed my left hand and lifted it slowly.
“Everything is going to work itself out.Just you wait and see,” he assured me as he placed a kiss on the finger that held my wedding ring. My heart skipped a beat, though I continued to remain impassive as he caressed the diamond and band with his thumb.
“We never did return to our discussion from the other night. Did you have a chance to think about everything?” he asked.
I pulled away wordlessly as I cleaned up the little mess I’d made in the kitchen.
Did I have a chance to think? Did I really have a chance to think about the request to have a baby with my husband, who now suddenly found an interest in his wife other than to belittle her or ridicule her? Did I have a chance to think when I was bent over the counter for another man to use me as if I belonged to him? Did I have a chance to think when I was falling in love with said man and falling out of love with my husband?
I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t say anything, really. I was actually hoping we would just sweep that conversation under the rug, forget it even happened. But with the way he waited expectantly, I knew I had to say something.
Taking a sip of my tea, I lowered the mug to the counter and held it silently. “I don’t really know what to say,” I whispered.
Gavin nodded. “It’s understandable. Just wanted to know when you were ready to start that conversation again.”
“Gavin. I… I don’t think I’m ready, and quite frankly, I don’t know when I will be.”
“You were ready a few years ago. What’s changed since then?” he asked, almost as if he hadn’t been the one to turn me down time and time again.
“I’ve changed, Gavin. I was done waiting for you to change a long time ago, and it’s going to take more than dinner and a few kisses to get back to a good place.”Not that we were ever in a good place to begin with…
“All you’ve talked about is bringing us closer together and putting effort into fixing our marriage. Don’t you see I’m trying here?”
“You’re trying?” I uttered in disbelief.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Of course I am, Rose. I wouldn’t be talking to you about this now if I wasn’t.”
I had to control my anger as my hand on the counter balled into a fist.
“Tryingwould have been supporting me in the beginning of trying to run my business.Tryingwould be talking to Brent so I wouldn’t be hanging on by a thread with the interest rates on my loans.Tryingwould be standing your ground against your parents when they talk down on me.” I let go of the mug and turned to completely face him, almost breathless. “In the middle of that, maybe hold your wife for reasons other than just to give a half-assed apology for something you did. Maybe a bit of connection and affection could help, too. And sex! We haven’t had sex in years because of work, or you were tired, or whatever excuse you’ve given me that has kept us apart almost our entire marriage. You barely touch me, and now, all of a sudden, you want to have a baby? So we can fix our marriage? Is that truly your way of trying?”
“You’re the one who wanted to start a family.I’m only doing what you asked for,” Gavin said, stoic against my anger. He seemed like he was trying to control his composure, but I knew he was angry too. I knew the caring husband façade wouldcrack, but I just didn’t know when. Now, his once loving gaze was slowly turning into a scrutinizing one, the one that surfaced when he couldn’t control what I did and downplayed my accomplishments.
Placing the half-empty mug in the sink, I went to walk away before I felt his hand on my upper arm to stop me. It wasn’t hard, but just him touching me had me wanting to pull away in disgust.
“Rosenna,” he began.
I forced my words out through gritted teeth. “I am done with this conversation, Gavin.”
He reluctantly released my arm, though his scrutinizing gaze lingered. He looked like he would speak, probably ready to curse me out of my name or belittle me as he’d done before—but he said nothing as he looked away, seemingly uninterested in taking the conversation any further.
Taking it as my sign to leave, I high-tailed my ass out of the kitchen, practically fuming as I grabbed my belongings and stepped out of the home.
