Page 91 of Married to Lies

I looked at my phone for a moment, sitting in his answer. Neither of us wanted to go. That already made me feel less alone. I glanced at the silver band on my finger. The simplest piece of jewelry I owned and yet the most impactful.

Quentin: I used to think nothing of getting on a plane to leave town for days or weeks at a time.

Bryce: Me too.

I let out a heavy breath, the weight of my anxieties wearing on me.

Quentin: I hate this.

All this time, staying silent protected my vulnerabilities. People couldn’t use them against me if they didn’t know what they were. Now, my enemies knew exactly where I was exposed. I swallowed down bile.

Bryce: Don’t waste tonight worrying about tomorrow.

I swallowed, looking toward the bed where Rei still slept.

He was right.

I set down my phone and slid back under the covers, curling against her bare body. If tonight was all I had with her, I’d savor each second until the sun came up.

My alarm went off at seven in the morning, and I hurried out of bed to turn it off. Rei grunted something and rolled over, twisting the blankets around her even more. She’d stolen the covers in the night, but I wasn’t mad. Sleeping next to her with or without extra covers was a gift.

Now that my phone wasn’t threatening to wake her up, I was tempted to crawl back in bed with her and ignore all my responsibilities. But there was something I wanted to do before I left.

So I went to get my things out of my bag and got to work.

Rei

I reached over for Quentin, and my hand came up empty.

Fear jumped into my throat, and I sat up, looking around the empty room. The clock on the nightstand said it was ten in the morning, and my throat got tight. Had I slept in?

I’d wanted to get up early and make him breakfast, but I must have forgotten to set the alarm on my phone or slept through it entirely.

One day in, and I was already the worst wife in the world.

I flopped back down, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, and something crackled under my back. What was that? I hadn’t brought snacks to bed.

Confused, I rolled over and saw a yellow sticky note.

Good morning, wife.

Check the bathroom mirror.

-Q

My lips curled into a smile as I studied his handwriting and then got out of bed. Since I was the only one home, I walked in the nude.

In the bathroom, a new note waited for me on the mirror.

You’re so beautiful. - Q

P.S. – check the closet.

My smile reflected back at me in the mirror as I walked to the bedroom closet. A few spare linens were on the shelves, and a lone garment bag hung from the rack with a yellow note stuck to the front.

My wife deserves to ride home in comfort and style. -Q

Check the fridge next. (Yes, after you look at the fit, because I know you’ll want a peek.)