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A shudder rocks her, and her fingers tremble as she holds one of the pictures in her hand.
Anticipation of her next words turns my muscles rigid. If my body strains any more, I will break a bone.
“I’ll let you work.”
No kiss, no eye contact. I feel broken in two.
My thoughts are scrambled like pieces of two different puzzles. In the hallway, I collapse against his office door, not understanding what transpired in there. What should I do? That was my uncle. I have the slight impression Kieran did that on purpose.
Testing me.
Always testing me.
Sadness and anger clamor for the prime spot. I hate when Kieran is so cold and calculating, testing my loyalty. If my love for him is not enough to trust me, then we’re doomed. A lone tear trickles down my cheek. I wipe the tear away and go to the library.
If he wants to deal with things between us as he does with his business, then the loss is on him. I am not willing to fight to make our marriage work by myself.
Every hour he remains locked in his office is another hour where the claws of anger grip me tighter in their clutches. I shut the book I’m trying to read and throw my head back against the armchair.
The door creaks open and Kieran leans against the frame, hishands tucked in his pants, ankles crossed. His hot gaze never falters.
“I made a dinner reservation.”
Staring at him, disappointment settles deep inside of me.
I place the book on the small table, push myself off the chair, and go upstairs. I make quick work of changing into a green satin cocktail dress, put on my makeup, and let my hair flow down my back. He waits for me at the bottom of the stairs.
“You look beautiful.” A mist of warmth seeps through his voice, resounding with honesty, and I hold on to the hope.
In the car, the silence suffocates me.
“Daniel, I’d like to hear some music.”
His eyes find mine in the rearview mirror, his warm gaze infusing strength. Life with Kieran will always be a roller coaster.
We reach our destination, one of those restaurants that serve food in the front room with a nightclub in the back. A maître d’ shows us to the farthest corner, where candles are lit on the table. It would have been romantic if not for my husband acting like a douchebag. I gave him my heart, body, and freedom, but he wants more. All my secrets and my trust, even though the only secret I hide from him is not mine to tell.
I down the first glass and pour myself another.
“That’s enough.”
I take a few bites of my meal before pushing the plate away.
“Eat.”
Instead, I grab and toss back a second glass of sparkling, golden liquid. The bubbles glide down my throat, warming my stomach.
“Am I not being the perfect puppet you desire, husband?” I say and rim the glass with a finger. I pour myself a third glass, filling it to the top. His jaw tics. I giggle and take a sip.
“Don’t drink that. You’re going to regret it in the morning.”
“But not tonight,” I say and take a long gulp. “I want to go dancing.”
He leans over a bit, his chest peeking from his shirt. “The only place you’re going to move your ass is in our bed.”
I want to dance. I am going to dance. Standing up, I giggle as I stumble on my feet, knocking my hip on the table.
Kieran is already up and following me when I slip through the club doors. I follow the music, and a bulky man trails his eyes over me in appreciation, letting me in.
