AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, but I think this one is bigger. This is designated as the master, so technically it should be bigger, right?”
“One would think,” I replied. “But I don’t really have much. And I didn’t pack everything I have. Let’s just start with me in there”—I thumbed over my shoulder, assuming the other bedroom was in that direction—“and we can see how it works out.”
“All right. Fair enough.” He smiled and scooped up the bags I had dropped at the opening of the closet and walked out of the room, me following behind him once again.
“I still think it would be better if I slept in here too.”
“On what? The floor? I won’t have it.” He was adamant about his answer.
Why did the solution seem so obvious to me?
“Can’t we get more furniture?”
“With what, darling? Our good looks? You don’t have a source of income currently, and my paycheck has to cover everything else. Furnishing an entire room just isn’t in the budget at the moment.”
“Maybe my folks would let me move the furniture from my room at their house,” I thought out loud.
“But you were just saying that the twins wouldn’t have to share a room now that you’ve moved out. Won’t they need the furniture?”
My shoulders dropped along with my excitement. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I can unpack this stuff. You don’t have to help. Like I said, there isn’t that much. I’ll be done in no time.” And to be honest, I was nearing an emotional disturbance. I could feel it churning in my stomach. Some alone time would be much appreciated.
“Why don’t I see what I can throw together for dinner while you do this? Is there anything you don’t like?”
Oh, this was going to be another debate and lecture. I knew it before I even answered.
“Pretty much vegetables and fish. Other than that, I’m easy.”
“You don’t eat vegetables? Or you don’t like them?” he asked, his good-boy face set in a mask of horror.
I laughed at his expression and said, “I don’t eat them because I don’t like them.”
“Okaaaayy.” He dragged the reaction out across more beats than he needed to. “Narrow it down for me. Like, you don’t like broccoli?”
“All of them. They’re mushy and gross, and you’re not going to get me to change my mind, so don’t make this our next spat, ’kay?”
Even though he was shaking his head, he replied, “Yes, dear.”
Good thing he didn’t see the one-finger salute I flipped him as he left the room.
What had I gotten myself into? I flopped back on the floor and used one of the duffel bags as a pillow. I needed to come up with a game plan, because this arrangement was never going to work out. He’d be sick of me by week’s end, and then I’d be jobless and homeless. The last thing I wanted to do was show up on Hannah’s doorstep and beg for a place to crash.
First thing tomorrow, I’d brush up my résumé and start sending it out to the contacts I’d made from my old job. I wouldn’t be able to use them as a reference now that I was fired, so I would either have to lie about why I moved on or make up other job experience so I wouldn’t have a long gap in employment. That never looked good on an application. But I had to find something. Hell, I’d work at Hot Topic if need be. There was no way I’d be financially dependent on Carmen—or anyone else, for that matter.
I must have been lost in my thoughts, because when my husband poked his head back in the room to let me know dinner was ready, I was still lying on the floor.
“Hey,” he said, then saw my position and lack of progress. “Have you been lying there this whole time? Shit, it’s been like an hour. You could be finishing up by now.”
“Don’t start with me again,” I snapped but then sighed. “Please. I don’t need another lecture of disapproval right now. I had no idea that much time slipped by.” I finished off the admission at close to a whisper and hauled myself up off the floor. Changing the subject seemed like a good plan.
“Something smells delicious. What did you make?” I asked, stomach growling with hunger now that I caught a whiff of his cooking.
“Come on, before it gets cold.”
He held his hand back for me to grab, and I just looked at it.
“I’m going to freshen up quickly, wash my hands from all this.” I waved around to the bags scattered across the floor. I really just needed a moment to breathe, and I’d rather do it without his assessing stare. “Is there a guest bath?”
“Yep, right here.” He tapped on the closed door while walking past. “Do you want water with dinner?”
