Page 114 of Wed to You

Chapter Twenty

Chelsea wasn’tsure how she made it to her car. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give out with each step. It was like she’d lost control of everything as she fought to reach her car. “Pull it together, Chels.”

“Chelsea?” Mitch trotted up next to her. “Why don’t I take you to my place?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m okay. You should probably stay and make sure he’s okay.”

“He’s just hurting. Men say dumb things when they’re hurting.”

She looked at him, trying to muster a smile. “You say that like you have personal experience.”

“Tons of it. Just ask Syd.” His eyes softened. “I mean it. I’m worried.”

“I’m okay, Mitch. Really. I’m going to my house.”

He nodded. “I’ll stop by your place later.”

Somehow, she made it to her house. The beautiful renovated home Jagger had given her. The magnitude of her loss overtook her in a whoosh. Her knees went out from under her and she dropped to the floor and wept. She didn’t know how long she was there, but eventually she managed to make it to the couch. She didn’t bother to take the cover off and instead, crawled onto it and cried some more. She thought maybe she’d cry forever.

Curled up on her couch, it was as if all the life had been sucked out of her. All that was left was an empty heap. She had no energy to get up when a pounding sounded on her door. It wasn’t like whoever was insistently knocking was Jagger. No, whatever affection he might have had for her was not only gone but replaced by a deep-seated hate. She squeezed her eyes shut to rid her mind of the look in his eyes as he told her to get out. No one had ever looked at her with such hate. She shivered at the memory.

But, they’d had a business deal. Regardless of her feelings for him, she would always have ended up right where she was: in her own home, crying because, despite her best intentions, she’d fallen in love with him. She’d even told him she loved him, but he hadn’t heard it.

She chastised herself for the umpteenth time for letting her feelings and fantasies get away from her. For letting herself forget the marriage was a sham, even if her feelings for him were real. So real she swore she could physically feel the tear in her heart.

“Chelsea! Open up.”

Mitch. She should have known. A pang of guilt stabbed at her for the lies she’d told her friend. Lies she’d now need to confess. She didn’t need to talk to them to know what they’d say. They’d tell her she should have come to them for the money to save her home. What was she thinking? There would be pity and disappointment.

“Chels. Please.”

Knowing Mitch wouldn’t give up, she dragged herself from the couch and to the door. She opened it. “I’m okay. I just want to be alone.”

There it was. Pity etched on his handsome face. “I know. But I can’t leave you.”

She nodded. He was filling in for Brian, who’d have come to her side and not left. She appreciated Mitch’s dedication to being her surrogate big brother, even as she wished he’d leave.

She left the door open as she shuffled back to the couch. She was so tired. She just wanted to climb in a hole and sleep.

She heard the door shut and knew he was behind her. She sat back on the couch, curling her feet underneath her. He sat next to her.

“You don’t have to do this. You have your own family, your own life.”

“You’re my family too. Syd knows where I am.”

Chelsea shook her head. By now, everyone in Charlotte Tavern would know what was going on. She imagined even more expressions of pity. Maybe even judgment. How could she betray her husband like that?

Mitch took her hand. “We don’t have to talk. We can just sit.”

His kindness and understanding touched her, and the tears started to flow again. She leaned her head over to his shoulder as the crying became weeping. His free hand reached over and cupped her cheek. His lips kissed her head. It was exactly what Brian would have done. So, she let go and let all the grief out.

She didn’t know how long she cried, or how long she sat once the tears were gone. It was possible she’d fallen asleep. But when she finally became aware, Mitch was still there.

She looked at him. “Thanks.”

He nodded and smiled. “I would have been here sooner, but I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to do anything stupid again.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, her grief now for Jagger. “He’s devastated.”

---