Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
13
JUNE
Ishould be thrilled to have a closet filled with high-end designer clothes.
But nothing feels right.
Probably because it’s not my stuff.
Guilt hangs in my chest. Whenever I start to feel bad for myself, I remember Marnie’s lying in a hospital somewhere. It’s like an anchor’s been lifted from around my ankles knowing she’s okay, but I can’t forgive myself for what happened to her.
For now, I have to focus.
Once Rafe is gone, I find a Gucci duffle bag and pack it with essentials, anything that might survive a hike through the barrens. When that’s done, I leave it hidden under the mess I made. I doubt Rafe will clean this up anytime soon.
He’ll think I’m being stubborn and a pain in his ass, which is exactly what I want.
Then I pick up Hattie and take her down for dinner. Byron’s still busily cooking and seems delighted that we want to eat in the kitchen. He talks about cooking at high-end restaurants all over Paris and does silly impressions of loud, annoying French people for Hattie, who loves it. The food’s incredible too, and by the time I take my daughter back up for bed, I’m feeling full and satisfied, almost lulled to complacency.
Hattie goes down easily. I slip into the main bedroom, find something to wear, and steal back into the hall. I’m walking toward the bathroom when I feel him behind me.
“Where are you going, June?”
I look over my shoulder. Rafe’s standing in our bedroom door. Where the heck did he come from? For such a massive man, he moves like a whisper.
“To bed with my daughter.”
“Not tonight.”
“Rafe—“
“No.” He steps forward. “There will be whispers and I will not have that. My wife sleeps in my bed.”
“You can’t force me.”
“I think I can.” There’s no threat in the way he’s looking at me, only certainty. Like there’s no doubt in his mind that he’ll get what he wants.
“What’s this game we’re playing? What’s the point? You know I don’t want to be here.”
“You’ll learn.”
“Go to hell.”
“How about I offer you something instead.”
I pause, shoulders tense. “You don’t have anything I want.”
“Actually, I do.” He holds up a phone. “You can call your friend.”
Oh god. My resolve slips. I turn, hope and desperation filling me, but I know this is a trick. He’s using Marnie to get his way, and isn’t that sick? Isn’t that fucked up?
But I don’t care. I want it anyway.
“Right now?”
“In the morning. It’s late. She’s asleep already.”
“How do you know that?”
The phone disappears into his pocket. “Come to bed, wife. I’ll let you talk to your friend tomorrow if you’re good.”
Shit. I glance at Hattie’s door. I don’t want to leave her alone, but I don’t think she’s in danger. For all Rafe’s faults, he hasn’t threatened her. If anything, he seems intent on being some kind of father to her, which I haven’t processed yet.
“We set rules.” I brush past him and head back into the master. I sit on the edge of the bed. It’s massive and softer than a cloud. I mentally curse myself for loving how comfortable it feels. “No touching. You stay on your side.”
“I suspect you’ll break that before I do.”
“No talking either. I’m not interested in chatting.”
“I’m not much of a conversationalist.”
“I’ve noticed.” I drum my fingers against my knee, trying hard not to glance over at the closet. I don’t want him to guess that I’m thinking about the hidden bag. “I don’t only want to call Marnie once. I want to talk to her every day.”
“That can be arranged.”
“And I want to message Beth to let her know I’m fine.”
“I find that acceptable.”
“And—“ I take a deep breath, thinking maybe he’s being reasonable for once. “And this marriage? I’ll play along, but only until Hattie’s old enough to go to college. Then we’re finished and I’m free.”
I realize my mistake immediately. His face shuts down. It goes blank and dark, and he slowly closes the door behind him before turning and coming toward me.
“You don’t seem to understand.” I lean away, heart pattering as he looms, a gorgeous monster in a tight black t-shirt. I swear I can see the outline of each individual ab muscle and there are like fifty of them. “You and me are forever, June.”
“There’s no reason for that. Marriages end all the time—“
“Mine don’t.”
For a beat, I’m afraid he’s going to grab me, but instead he drops to his knees in front of me, hands to either side of my thighs, hemming me in.
We’re nearly eye height now. He’s a few inches lower, thanks to the tall bed. I’m breathing fast, startled by his intensity, remembering the way he went down on me that first night. It was so long ago, years now, but every moment, every touch is seared into my brain.