Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
I clap my hands together. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. I bet you are tired. I made up the big bedroom for you.”
His eyebrows rise in surprise. “But I thought you were sleeping in that room.”
His nose is scrunched up as if sleeping in the same room as me disgusts him or something. I stutter over my words. “Uh, yeah, well, I was, but I moved all my things to the smaller room upstairs.”
He blows out a breath and doesn’t try to hide his disappointment. “You didn’t have to do that, Jane. I’ve been sleeping on a cot for as long as I can remember. I would have been fine in a smaller room.”
I grab his bag and pick it up before he can stop me. “I’ll put this in your room. I know you’ve seen all the changes to the house when we’ve video chatted on the phone, but I wanted to surprise you with your room. I hope you love it, but I can change anything.”
I keep rambling as I walk down the hallway to the bedroom. It takes a minute for Grant to follow me, and I try to catch my breath and get ahold of my emotions. I stand in the room and wait for him as he enters and looks around. I expected him to be excited, but his voice is still controlled as he looks around. There’s no hint of emotion, and when he doesn’t even smile, I assure him again, “Really, I can change all of it.”
He stops across the room from me. It almost feels like he can’t put enough distance between us. “It’s great, Jane. I love it.”
I drop his bag to the floor and try to keep my patience. As I cross my arms over my chest, I bring up the one thing I’ve been thinking about but was hoping it wouldn’t come to it. “So, uh, a friend of mine said there’s an open apartment in her building. I have money saved up and—”
He cuts me off. “This is your house, Jane. You’re not leaving.”
“But…” I start.
But he doesn’t let me say anything else. For the first time since he got here, he’s showing some emotion, and unfortunately, it’s anger. “You’re not leaving your home, Jane. I won’t hear of it. If you’re uncomfortable with sharing a house with me, I’ll leave.”
It’s my turn to be upset. “This is your house, Grant.”
He blows out a breath and crams his hand through his hair. “It’s our house. Look, I know this is awkward, but let’s agree to not make any sudden decisions, okay? No one’s leaving.”
I start to fiddle with the ring on my finger. “You’re right. We shouldn’t make any decisions right now. I should let you rest. Are you hungry? Can I bring you a sandwich or anything?”
Instead of answering me, he points at my finger. “You’re still wearing your ring.”
I look at my hand and hold it up. “You mean my wedding ring? Of course, I’m still wearing it.”
He takes a step toward me. “So you’ve worn it the last seven years?”
He’s staring at me as if he’s anxious to hear my answer. “Of course. Since the day you put it on my finger, I’ve worn it. Well, except the time I hit my hand with a hammer and it was starting to swell so I took it off, but that was just for a few days.”
By the time I’ve finished talking, Grant has moved toward me and grabbed my hand and is now holding it up to inspect it. He strokes his finger along it and stares at my ring, and that’s when I notice it. I don’t even try to hold back my gasp. “You uh, you have your ring on too.”
He nods his head. “Yeah, I haven’t taken it off either. Can I ask you something, Jane?”
I nod my head, and he asks something I never thought my husband would ask me. “Have you been dating?”
I jerk my hand away from him and step back. Stunned, I shake my head. “Really? I know we don’t know each other well, but surely you know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t cheat on you. You’re my husband…”
When my voice trails off, he holds his hands up. “I know. I know. But this really isn’t a conventional marriage, and it’s been seven years. I just thought…”
Pain like nothing I’ve felt before crushes in my chest. “Wait… so you’re saying...”
I stop, clutch my hand to my chest, and start to walk toward the bedroom door. I know I’m being ridiculous. He’s right. We’ve been married seven years, and besides the brief kiss he gave me in front of the justice of the peace, we’ve had literally no intimacy whatsoever. I can’t hide the hurt, so walking away is the only option. I was a fool.