I reach for my purse on the table and dig through it. With my phone in hand, I go upstairs to our bedroom and sit on the edge of the bed.
I open the messaging app on my phone, enter his name, and stare at the blank screen. There are so many things I want to say to him. I type a few words and then instantly delete them. It takes a few minutes, but I finally think I get it right.
Hey. Remember how you said I should move back home. I’m going to take you up on that.
I don’t expect an answer, but I’m surprised when immediately there are bubbles that appear on the screen.
Yes. Good. I hated the thought of you living on someone’s couch.
I scan his text and then type another one.
You shouldn’t be sleeping on that small couch in your office either.
He starts to type, and then the bubbles disappear. Finally a text comes through.
I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe at home in our bed.
I want to scream at the phone.You fool! Yes, in our bed, where you belong. I want to tell him I know everything, but that will get us nowhere. No, I need him to tell me, and then maybe we can work through this. But we’re not going to do it if we never see each other.
I send him another text.
I know you probably have a busy day tomorrow, but can we have lunch or coffee?
Penn texts back immediately.
Yes.
A thought comes to mind.
Give me a time, and I’ll meet you in your office.
After a slight pause, he responds.
Noon?
I suck in a breath and slowly let it out.
See you then.
I lie back on the bed with the phone gripped in my hand. Staring at the ceiling, I think about everything. I know I have two choices: I can walk away or stay. There’s no way I’m leaving, and I’m not going to let him push me away anymore either.
CHAPTER 15
PENN
I look at my watch for the hundredth time. It’s almost noon, and I’m still in rounds. Normally, I would work through lunch, but not today. I hand the file to Nurse Jenner. “I’m taking lunch. Meet you back here at one.”
Her eyebrows lift, and I don’t blame her for being surprised. I usually finish rounds. I definitely don’t take a lunch, but today is different. Today, I get to see my wife, who I haven’t seen in a few days.
I push the button on the elevator, and as soon as the door opens, I get on. I bind my hands together in front of me to try and calm my nerves. I’m acting like this is a date or something. Who knows why she wanted to meet? Fuck, what if she plans on serving me with divorce papers? The thought almost makes my legs buckle. I put a hand on the wall of the elevator to stay up. Thank God I’m alone or else I would be causing a scene.
When the doors open, I’m slower to move. My excitement from earlier is gone, and now I’m worried as I walk down the hallway toward my office. As soon as I get around the corner, I see Ariaholding a brown bag. When she sees me, her smile is big and instant, and some of my worry leaves me.
I want to kiss her. The need is so big there’s no holding it back. I stop next to her, take the bag from her hands, and kiss her forehead. “Hey,” I murmur.
She’s in scrubs, and maybe most people don’t find those flattering, but they look sexy as hell on Aria. “You look good today.”
She seems taken aback by the kiss but recovers instantly. “Yeah, well, sleeping in our bed definitely helped.”
