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“Yeah, but you didn’t even come to Austin for Valentine’s Day.” The tips of his fingers trail down my neck before fiddling with the chain of my necklace. “That means you’re still upset.”
“I’m not angry with you. I had to work. You, of all people, should understand that.”
“Look, I know lately we’ve had more bad days than good. I’m hoping once the stress of the wedding is behind us, we can get back to normal. But before that happens, I need to make sure we are ok.”
Brad’s dark, chocolate-colored eyes search mine, and I know this is the point where I’m supposed to reassure him. “We’re good. I just have a lot on my mind between work and the wedding. Plus, waiting for these test results is like having a dark cloud hanging over me.”
Wrapping me up in his arms, Brad holds me close to him. “Everything will work out. The moment you become Mrs. Bradley Durand, your whole life’ll change, baby. Nothing bad happens in my family. You’ll see.”
Brad brings his lips to mine and kisses me. After three years, most of the magic is gone. His kisses are familiar and lack the excitement they once had. It’s sad how quick the fire can burn out. When we part, I roll my lips and step out of his embrace.
“What’s for dinner? I’m starved.”
Brad claps his hands together and immediately starts telling me all about the meal he’s prepared. While we eat, the two of us finish my bottle of wine. Afterward, Brad watches Sports Center while I read. When he shuts the TV off, I worry he’ll want sex. With everything going on, I’m just not in the mood tonight. But he doesn’t initiate, and I feel guilty about being relieved by that, but I am.
Now in bed, I lay here and stare at the ceiling fan as it spins around and around. I feel trapped in my home. Suffocated, because the man I love is here in bed with me instead of being in his own place. Get it together, Rory. This is how normal adult relationships are supposed to be.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice my phone light up. Leaning over, I unlock it and see a text from Jackson.
Jackson:Are you awake?
Before I respond, I look behind me to make sure Brad is still asleep.
Me:Yeah. Is everything ok?
Jackson:I want to say I’m sorry for running out of your office like that. Can I call you?
With Brad asleep, I could easily sneak to the front of the house to speak to Jackson. But the fact that I have to use the word sneak proves I’m doing something I shouldn’t be doing.
Me:Brad is here. Can we talk tomorrow?
The three dots flash across the screen over and over, but no response comes through. After five minutes, my phone lights up again, alerting me of the incoming text.
Jackson:Another surprise? Lucky you.
He ends the text with that crazy-looking emoji that has one eye closed and its tongue sticking out.
Jackson:I just wanted to tell you we’re good. It was a busy day, is all. See you tomorrow.
I put my phone back on the nightstand before rolling onto my back once more. Is it possible that I’m so freaked out by the wedding and the move that I imagined that whole moment with Jackson when really nothing happened? Jesus, Rory. It’s time to pull yourself together and quit making issues where they don’t exist.
