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I nod, taking a deep breath. “I'm more than okay.”
He chuckles, winding his arms around me in a hug from behind. “Good,” he says.
Everything is going to be okay. With Fredrick by my side, I can handle anything that comes my way.
When we finally get out, we’re both clean and I’ve never been happier. Who knew a shower without sex could be such an intimate experience? Once we’re dry, I glance over at him.
“I never thanked you for helping with my shop,” I say.
“I’m ashamed the gesture came with strings attached. I should have done it because it was the right thing instead of to get something out of you.” He sounds upset.
“Well, it worked out in my favor,” I say, a teasing note in my voice that has him throwing a glance my direction.
Despite all this easy time spent together, I know I told him we’d talk about the future. I said I’d make a decision and try to decide what to do moving forward. I’ve already had ideas; maybe I can transfer things back to him. Or they could be in my name, but he could control all of it. I want him, not what his cruel father passed to him in a final, horrendous mind game.
Still, I’d be lying if I said all of the things he's done don’t weigh heavily on my mind, and I can't ignore them forever.
“Fredrick,” I say, leading him over to the couch. “We need to talk.”
“You’re right, that phrase sucks,” he says with a smile as he sits down beside me, his knee touching my leg. “Before we start, I want to let you know that I am sorry for the dumb, messed up things I did to you.”
Looking deep in his eyes, I find myself believing him.
“I just...I didn't know how else to make things right between us.”
That statement confuses me. “Make things right between us?” I ask, confused.
His gaze meets mine. “You wouldn't have married me because of how I left, or because I wanted to stick it in my mom’s face that I am worthy of love and found it, because she wouldn’t know it was a lie or expect you to trick her.”
That explanation makes me hesitate. It makes far too much sense. “Of course, you're worthy of love.” Sometimes it's hard to believe how deeply his parents hurt him.
“I want to discuss that further, but later,” I say. “Right now, I want to make this work. But we need boundaries. We need to communicate better and be honest with each other.”
“You are honest and communicate well. I’m the one that needs to work on it.” His eyes are serious, and I lift both shoulders.
“There’s always room for improvement,” I say. “Will you go to therapy with me so we can address our pasts and build a solid foundation for our future?”
“Yes,” he says, nodding.
A sudden knock at the door cuts us short, and we both glance that direction.
“I’ll be right back,” Fredrick says as he stands up and goes to answer it, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
He pulls open the door and I hear a familiar voice. “Vivian,” Fredrick says, his voice edging toward angry. “What are you doing here?”
“I came back for you, baby. We both know that we’re meant for each other. We proved that a long time ago.” She leans in and plants her lips on his, and I feel sick to my stomach.
“Get off me,” Fredrick says, pushing her away. “I want nothing to do with you. The past was a mistake.”
Vivian seems to notice me and plants her hands on her hips while talking to Fredrick. “I guess you didn't tell her about us.”
“Us?” Fredrick says, his voice lowering with fury. “There's been no us for over a decade. There never was an us.”
My heart drops at his words. A decade? That means he was with her when we were together.
He cheated on me.
“Fredrick,” I say, my voice shaking. “Is this true?”
