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Josephine shrugs, making my heart ache even more. I reach out and take her wrist, which she doesn’t respond to.

“I’m serious here. I don’t want you to take anything seriously that comes out of her mouth. She is just a jealous, bratty woman. Do you hear me?”

Josephine shrugs again. I feel like I am talking to the wall.

“Can you look at me for a second, babe?”

The use of a pet name gets her attention, and she finally raises her green eyes in my direction. She looks devastated, and it makes me want to scream from the rooftops how divine she is.

“I promise you that I will not let any of that happen to you again. You don’t deserve any of the bullshit she throws your way. I am so sorry that she tried to hurt you like this.”

Josephine looks away from me but doesn’t push my hand away. I wish I could reach out and kiss her, tell her how much better she is than my ex.

But that would mean I am admitting something deeper than our agreement. Is that why it hurts to see her so destroyed? Because I can not comfort her without giving myself away, potentially only making things worse?

I squeeze her wrist. “Hey, how about we do something fun tonight? I can take you out on the town, maybe try that adult arcade we were talking about…”

She cuts me off before I have a chance to finish my sentence.

“I would rather stay here and bake, if that's alright.”

My heart sinks in my chest like a stone falling into a well. She really is hurt by what happened with Ada.

I nod, then give her hand another squeeze. “I want you to do whatever you think will make you feel better…I’m still so sorry, though. I really mean that.”

“I know you are, Aiden,” she says, still looking away. “I just need to do my own thing right now. I hope you understand that. My mother is coming home from the hospital soon. I need to prepare her room, get my mind ready, all that, you know?”

I give her arm one last squeeze, and finally let go. She doesn’t seem to notice.

“I do understand.” It’s true, in a way. I don’t want to boss her around or tell her how to face her problems. She is a grown adult. If she doesn’t want my help or comfort, there is nothing I can do.

It’s just the way her reasons sound like excuses that bother me. I can feel her pulling away, and I don’t know how to stop it.

We sit in silence for a moment, the din of the customers, the espresso machine and ambient music sitting between us. I know that this must be a lot for her to deal with. Having a jealous ex-girlfriend to deal with certainly was not part of the deal.

“Call me or text to let me know if you need anything, okay? Anything at all?”

She gives me a faint smile, but it's one of those smiles you give customers when you are having a shit day. It makes my heart ache even more.

“I will, Aiden. Thank you.”

We stand up and give a cordial goodbye. We even peck each other on the lips for the sake of the image. She pulls away from me quickly, though I have the urge to hold her closer and longer.

She gives me that smile again, and I walk away. I chose not to inform her of Ada’s position at the company because it can only upset her more. There is no point in adding any more humiliation to what she has already experienced today.

When I climb into my car, I feel useless and empty, a sudden sense of loneliness sitting in my chest. I look back over at the cafe, seeing Josephine starting to mop again.

What the hell is going on with me?

35

JOSEPHINE

Having Ada come into the cafe and humiliate me like that stung. I had no control over her behavior, and most of all, I looked like a toolbox in front of my employees.

I could tell that Aiden could detect my helplessness. That in turn, made him feel helpless. Even if he was technically my husband, someone who was meant to know every inch of my emotions, there was very little the man could do.

It reminded me just how pathetic my position as his wife really was. His wife. But without the attachment or the love. Even though we slept together, I felt empty as he tried to console me. It was a gesture of compassion, not love. He walked away with far less confidence than he walked in with.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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