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“Call it payback, baby sister,” I singsong, heading out to get more from the van.
“You are really chipper today. Did you start an illicit affair today or something?” she jokes, peeling potatoes to go with dinner.
“No. But I did flirt a little bit,” I admit, opening a bag of chips.
“You can still flirt at your age?!” She fakes surprise. “I’m shocked! And PS, stop eating chips when I’m making you dinner, you hussy,” she adds before popping a chip in her mouth.
“Hardy har-har,” I deadpan. “I know, it was weird.”
“You’re hot and not even thirty yet, Stella. Enjoy a little attention. Nothing wrong with that. Just, you know, remember you’re married.”
“No shit, Sherlock. I’m married to the best man ever.”
“You really did hit the jackpot with Nolan.”
“And he’s so freaking hot. Here I am falling apart, and he continues to get more gorgeous by the second. It’s not fair how aging works.”
“Oh, shush! You are equally as gorgeous. Trust me.”
“Wish he still thought that,” I mumble under my breath.
“What’s that mean?” Grace asks. Guess I didn’t say it as quietly as I thought I did.
“We haven’t uh…” I cough to clear nothing from my throat. “Haven’t…” I lay my head on the counter next to her. “We haven’t had sex in months.”
“What?!” she shrieks. “No way.”
I nod, my head still resting on the counter. “He’s always working or gone, and I’m, well, you’ve seen me.”
She stops peeling and pulls me up to look at me. “That’s crazy talk. Seduce that sexy man of yours, Stell. No way he’ll turn you down. Maybe he’s waiting for you to initiate.”
Rubbing my now pounding head, I think about what she said. I do feel much more energized now that she’s helping with the kids. “Maybe…”
“Not maybe. Go fuck your husband,” she says way too seriously, and it makes me laugh. “I’m not even kidding,” she adds, “You finish the potatoes. I’m going to go pick up Aiden and Vanna.”
“Fine,” I say like it’ll be torture to sleep with my husband. “Hey, what time did Katy go down?” And like she heard her name spoken, she wakes up. “Never mind,” I chuckle, walking to the stairs to go get my baby girl.
* * *
Nolan: I have to work late. Don’t wait up.
I read his text several times. Disappointed, I go into the bathroom and clean the makeup off my face, then pull a sweatshirt on over the lacy negligée I put on before climbing into bed. Turning on Netflix, I start to watch a comedy sitcom while trying not to cry.
He didn’t know I was going to surprise him. It’s not his fault he has to work late. I know this. But it still doesn’t stop my disappointment.
Maybe it would be better if I left or found someone across the interwebs to fulfill my loneliness…
Chapter Three
STELLA
The next week came and went. Nothing changed. Nothing new.
On Thursday, after I left Grace with the kids and kissed Nolan goodbye, I set out for my day. I didn’t even think as I drove straight to the coffee shop I loved. It was called the Burned Bean and had some of the best coffee I’d ever sipped, along with the best homemade muffins and pastries.
It was quiet and cozy and once inside I felt like I could breathe for the first time after a week of devoting my every move to my family. Here, I could just be me and let myself get lost in my thoughts or the book I was reading.
But there was something in the back of my head telling me that this day I was going in hopes of more. A little niggling that had me wondering if the man who burned his mouth would be there again, sipping from a mug instead of a to-go cup.
