AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My cheeks and ears burn with embarrassment as Amber looks at me.Ah, of course. They are close, just not in the way I thought. Way to jump the gun on that one,I think to myself as hot flashes of embarrassment and shame flood through my system.
“Fuck, Amber, I’m so sorry,” I say, stumbling over my apology, “That was very stupid of me to assume. I am, of course, happy with any plans you want to make with your friends. I genuinely feel idiotic for my actions, but it seemed suspicious.”
“Don’t be sorry!” she exclaims. “I can very truthfully see how it might have looked like that. With that being said, would you like to come with me to see her?” she asks, smiling.
I almost jump with excitement at her invitation. “Of course I do,” I say, gladly accepting.More than you’ll ever know, in fact.At this point, it isn’t an issue of jealousy. I just want to know more about her life and her friends.
“Thank you for accepting my flaws and making me a better person. I’m sorry. I get a little over-crazy sometimes. I think it’s a childhood thing,” I say to her. She smiles at me warmly, leaving no doubt in my mind about how much she cares about me.
Later that day, we meet with her friend at the local coffee shop. After introductions, we find a table. The two start reminiscing about old times, and I smile at Amber, watching her with pleasure at the sight of her enjoyment.
Suddenly, she starts laughing and begins explaining to Honey the chain of events this morning. Honey laughs as well.
“Good lord, Kaden! Now that you’ve met me, does it seem like I might be someone for you to worry about, huh?” She giggles. “What do you think? Am I still a threat?”
I return her laugh readily. “Oh, definitely. It’s worse now that I know you’re a female best friend. That’s scarier than another man.” Both girls burst into laughter at my joke.
Once they finish teasing me, we receive our coffee and desserts. The food is nice, as it provides a buffer if there’s a lull in the conversation. But it doesn’t seem necessary as the two of them never break.
I’m not even sure they’re stopping long enough to breathe,I think, laughing internally at a woman’s gift to gab. I find myself relaxing and genuinely enjoying myself, which is a feeling I haven’t had in public with anyone other than Amber in a while.
Honey seems very nice, and the fact that she’s cracking jokes at me makes me get along with her even better. But I also notice what good company she is for my wife.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my back pocket, signaling that I have a new message. I quickly retrieve my phone and read the screen. I sigh with disappointment when I see that it’s my secretary messaging with bad news.
Don’t forget you have a meeting out of town this entire week,the text reads.
I roll my eyes in annoyance. Just when I think everything’s going perfectly, and I’m enjoying the day out with Amber, something has to ruin it.
God damn it, I really don’t want to leave her for an entire week. A week is the longest we’ve been apart since we crossed paths again, and I want to spend every second of the day with her. Why is this coming at the worst time?
I put my phone away, trying to concentrate on enjoying the rest of our outing. I can’t stop the way that my mood turns sour after the message, though. No matter how hard I try, I’m angry and disappointed now.
25
AMBER
After our coffee and cake with Honey, Kaden and I arrive home. It’s obvious that something’s off with him. We step out of the car and for the first time since our contract signing, he doesn’t open the door for me. He walks into the house without even holding the front door, then he goes straight into the kitchen.
He opens the fridge door with such force that the condiments all knock together, clinking the glasses together, and pulls out a beer. Not even using a bottle opener, I watch him walk to the counter, smacking the top of the beer bottle on it. Then I listen to the metal clink as the cap hits the floor.
I’m staring at him, trying to read his expressions, but he won’t even look at me.
“Are you okay?” I ask, nervous to hear the answer.
“Yep,” he says sternly.
Yeah, it sure seems you’re okay when you slam the lid down on the counter and then give me a one-word answer. What the hell is his issue?
He walks out of the kitchen and into the living room, not even asking if I’d like a drink. So, I open the fridge and grab a soda, opening it as I watch him take a seat on the couch. His whole body slumps into the cushions, and I try to replay our morning events.
Am I missing something? I thought everything was going well today. How can I be so wrong?
I grab a bag of pretzels and walk to the living room, sitting beside him as he flips through the channels. I try to grab his opposite hand to hold it, but he moves it away from me. My eyes stare at the side of his face, waiting for him to look over so I can meet his eyes, but he never does.
His perfectly sculpted jaw clenches several times before I get annoyed and look away. My eyes dart back to the TV as he puts on a show I don’t recognize.
“What happened to our nightly chick flick, huh?” I ask jokingly, trying to lighten the mood and get a hint of a smile out of him. But I have no luck. He finally turns to look at me, but it’s only to hand me the remote.
