Page 105 of The Reason I Married Him
“Fine,” I say. “The problem is I don’t want you living here.”
“Ooo,” he says on a wince. “That’s the one problem that can’t be fixed. Sorry. But anything else, I can adjust.”
I sigh and lean against the wall. I know this is part of the deal, and I get it, but I didn’t expect him to move in tonight. I would have liked to have prepared for what’s to come.
Feeling defeated, I ask, “Are people really talking about how you’re not staying here?”
“They are. Ethel even mentioned it, and you know when she mentions something . . .”
“Won’t it be like you’re trying to cover something up by moving in right away?” I ask.
“No, because I mentioned that it would be soon. Didn’t give it a specific date. I’ll keep my reservation at the inn just in case you change your mind after tonight, but we might as well give ita shot, right?”May as well give it a shot?I don’t really see that I have a choice. By all standards, Wyatt is doing everything, saying all the right things, to placate me.He’s so selfless.And that speaks to me in ways I don’t want to analyze at this point. I said yes to marrying him, and this is the next logical step. And...as he said, we may as well give this a shot.
“I guess so,” I say.
“Great.” He pops up off the bed and comes up to me. With a smile plastered across his face, he brings me into a hug, and I stiffly lean into his chest. “Oh yeah, giving me the good stuff. God, you’re so warm and inviting. This hug, it feels like you’re accepting me.”
“I don’t even have my arms around you,” I say.
“It’s called sarcasm, Aubree.”
“Which should indicate to you that you should read the room and maybe not touch me.”
He lets me loose. “Doesn’t hurt to share in affection.”
“I don’t need affection,” I say as I straighten out the skirt of my dress.
“From the mood you carry around on a daily basis, I’d say that you do.”
“Affection means nothing,” I say as I move toward the bathroom and grab a scrunchie so I can throw my hair up into a messy bun. “Affection doesn’t help, it just hinders.”
I walk out of the bathroom to find Wyatt standing in the middle of the room, staring at me with a concerned look.
“Do you really mean that?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say as I attempt to move by him to get to the farmhouse. Ryland and Hattie are probably having a field day with their speculation about what’s happening in the guest house, but Wyatt stops me by pressing his hand to my stomach, not letting me by.
“Aubree, every human needs and deserves affection.”
“Not every human,” I say. “Some people out there have done terrible things and deserve nothing.”
Softly, he says, “But you’re not one of them, so you deserve affection.”
“I don’t want it,” I say.
“Why not?” he asks.
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s get to the house so we can help with dinner.” I try to move again, but he doesn’t let me.
“Does this have to do with an ex?” he asks. “Or maybe your dad?”
My eyes snap up to his, and I pull away from him. “What do you know about my dad?”
He slips his hands in his pockets. “Just that he wasn’t the best guy. He hurt you and your siblings, just little things that Clarke told me. That people around town have mentioned.”
“Well, forget about it. Nothing about him has affected me as an adult.” I’m saying the words, but I don’t even believe them because I know they’re not true.
Everything that happened in my childhood has affected me as an adult now.
