Page 106 of Always Right

As if sensing me there, she turned around, her jaw clenching as she eyed me from the kitchen. Almost like she dreaded seeing me there.

“Good morning,” I said.

She forced a smile, setting down the pan she held in her hand and eyeing me with caution, unsure of herself.

Maybe she didn’t trust that I would stick around after all this bullshit was over. But she had to know better than that.

When I realized I wouldn’t get anything out of her, I walked past her to the coffee maker, allowing the brewing coffee sounds and smell to surround us. I handed her the mug and though she hesitated, she took it from my hands and took a sip.

Her heart was utterly broken, and when that happened she shut everyone out.

Breaking the silence between us, I took the empty cup from her hands and caressed the soft skin of her cheekbone, eyeing her curiously as she sucked in a quiet breath.

“You should have gotten more rest.”

Her lips pressed in a thin line and she looked away. “That’s kind of hard to do right now.”

I ran my hands up and down her arms, feeling the goosebumps that formed on her skin as I touched her.

“This will be over soon, baby. It’ll end and we’ll carry on with our lives.”

I should have known then that she didn't want to hear it, but it was too late. Her eyes...cold, and devoid of any affection typically there, met my own with indifference.

Ah, I could feel the burn of her words before she even spoke.

"Sometimes I wonder if you actually believe that or if it's something you say to make yourself feel better."

A punch to my gut.

I nearly fucking collapsed from the damn ache her words caused, but I didn't say a word. Instead, I dropped my hand from her face, seeing the flush that crept on to her neck as her anger took over.

She's hurt.

"Because you have to know I don't believe that anymore, right?" Her jaw worked and her eyes narrowed before she continued. "I'm sure you know by now that we won't have a happy ending."

At her words, I scoffed, shaking my head. My hands balled into fists as I tried to control my reaction.

She doesn't mean it.

Hannah shielded herself with her words, trying to cause others the same pain she felt. I’d be damned if I said they didn’t hurt, though.

"Hm. That’s really how you feel?” Glancing at my phone, I saw Evie’s text and sighed, knowing Hannah probably wouldn’t like what I had done. “Tell me more about it later, okay? I’m going to check things out at the restaurant and then we’ll drop off the girls with Evie. We’re going out tonight.”

Eyes widening, Hannah stared at me like I was crazy and truthfully, I felt it. I felt every bit crazy as I looked at her, cowering away from me instead of embracing her pain.

Her fears.

Felt fucking crazy knowing that none of this would get better until it was over.

“What is wrong with you? What the hell makes you think I want to go out right now? With all of this—" she waved her hands around, emphasizing the chaos, “—going on? What? Do you think going out for a few hours will make me forget?”

Deep breaths.

Deep. Fucking. Breaths.

Disbelief etched her features, her brown eyes wide and full of anger. My beautiful wife was angry at the whole world...angry that these circumstances were thrown at her.

“I think it’ll do us good to get out.” My reply was short and I wanted to end the conversation with that. Turning around, I began to walk away until I heard her words once more, cutting through me like a burning blade.

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