Page 74 of Drunk on You

“Where’s the fun in that?”

I waggle my brows, and she playfully smacks my chest.

“Not happening.” She presses a quick kiss to my lips and then backs up. “I’m going to get started on the details for the company picnic. I’ll see you later.”

Once she’s gone, I go about researching a wedding planner. My wife wants a real wedding, so she’s going to get one that she’ll never forget.

“I think I’m going to go away for a few days.”

I glance up from my phone and set it down, finding Ana standing in front of me.

“You mean, we’re going to go away for a few days?” I correct.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I meant me.”

She swallows thickly, and I see it in her features that she’s trying to push me away.

It’s been a long week, dealing with the fallout from the baseball-game footage. Kingston’s attorneys were able to get it taken down, but not before it went viral on social media. Our IT department has been working around the clock to get them removed, but it will never happen. Once something like that is out in the world, there’s no wiping it away completely.

And with every video that’s found and posted and commented on, she retreats into her shell a little more.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong.”

I lock the door behind her and then guide us over to the couch.

When I sit, I expect her to cuddle into my side, like she always does, but instead, she places herself on the other side, keeping her distance.

“I just think I need some space,” she whispers.

“No,” I argue, reaching across the couch and pulling her into my arms so she’s sitting across my lap. “What you need is to realize that you’re not in this alone. And while I get you running after your mom passed away, you’re not running now.”

She buries her face in my neck and sniffles, and I wrap my arms around her as she cries quietly in my arms.

While guys get a slap on the back for getting caught in a sex-tape scandal, women don’t have it as easy, and I’ve heard the way people are whispering about Ana behind her back. When we walk through the office together, people stare and judge. I’ve had to tell several employees to close their mouths when I caught them making comments.

“I was thinking that maybe I should quit.” She sniffles softly. “But who else is going to hire me after that video?”

“It’s going to pass,” I promise her, lifting her chin to look up at me. “I know it’s hard right now, but you’re stronger than this. You don’t quit, Red. You keep your chin up and say fuck you to anyone who tries to look down on you.”

“Easier said than done,” she mumbles, dropping her head back down to my shoulder and snuggling closer. “Even my dad is being weird. I asked him to have lunch with me today since it’s Wednesday, and he told me he was too busy.”

“In his defense, he rescheduled a meeting we had for today because he said he had an appointment and wouldn’t be in.”

“Really?” She lifts her head. “Did he say why?”

“No, but I don’t think he’s blowing you off.”

“Maybe,” she says noncommittally. “I still think I should go away. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.”

“And as I said, you’re not going anywhere without me. We’re in this together. Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs, still pouting. “It’s beautiful in Florida this time of year.”

I chuckle at how adorable she is. To everyone else, she’s a strong, stubborn badass, but with me, she lets that shield down and shows me her vulnerable side. And it makes me love her even more.

“We have the double date on Friday night,” I remind her, making her groan. “But we could leave Saturday morning.”

“And take a couple of days off?” she says hopefully. “Make it a long weekend?”

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