Page 42 of The Imperfect Marriage

"Why didn’t you fight back?"

"I did."

"Not when I arrived at the fight. You were getting beaten up and making no move to defend yourself."

His features close even more. He grips my waist and lifts me over the console and back into my seat. The fact he can maneuver my body any way he wants means he can also do so to put distance between us when he wants. But I’m not giving up yet.

"When I yelled your name, you seemed to come to your senses and decide to fight back."

His jaw clenches. A nerve pops at his temple. He squeezes those thick fingers around the steering wheel and stays silent. The tension in the car skyrockets. Sweat beads my forehead. His shoulders swell; those biceps stretch the sleeves of his shirt.

A buzzing sound cuts through the space. I reach down and snatch my cross-body bag and slide my phone from it. I notice the missed calls —five of them, all from Zoey. She and I exchanged phone numbers before she left my place yesterday. Now, a message pops up on the screen.

Zoey: OMG. OMG. Are you okay?

Me: I think so

The phone buzzes with an incoming call from her. I decline it.

Me: I’m fine... Honest

Zoey: Are you with him? It seemed so intense between the two of you, I thought it best to leave. Are you sure you’re okay? *Eggplant emoji. Sweat emoji. Hot face emoji.* I can come and get you wherever you are

Me: *Laughing face emoji. Rain emoji.* No, don't worry. I'm good. I promise. I’ll call you later

I slide the phone back into my bag. “That was Zoey.”

He doesn’t reply.

“Your friend Zoey. She came to see me yesterday. With Summer. That’s how I found out about the fight, in case you were wondering.”

He stays silent.

“They’re good people. I like them.”

Some of the tension goes out of his shoulders. He angles his head in my direction. “I hope you don’t mind I asked them to check on you and gave them your address.”

I shake my head. “I don’t. It was interesting to talk to them. They’re lovely and so genuine. I enjoyed meeting them. It must be nice to have a circle of friends you’re close to.” A hint of wistfulness slips through my tone, and I cringe. That was unintentional. Enough with the woeful Orphan Annie act already. But once more, Q doesn’t seem to notice.

“I met Summer’s husband Sinclair during a work meeting, and we hit it off so well, he introduced me to Summer. She, in turn, introduced me to her sister Karma, Karma's husband Michael, and Zoey.

“She mentioned.” I nod.

“When I returned from the Marines, I didn’t have many friends left in London. My military buddies are from around the country. But thanks to Sinclair, I found a circle of people I get along with.”

“You have your family,” I point out.

He barks out a laugh. “You saw how Ryot and I fought. My family isn’t known for their ability to forgive or forget,” he says in a wry tone.

Seeing the opening, I have to take it. So I ask, “What... What happened between you and Ryot?”

Instantly, his features shutter. Guess it was too soon for me to ask that question.

He starts his car, does a U-turn and drives out of the parking lot.

I pull up my panties and set my clothes right. We drive in silence for a few minutes. I glance sideways at the cut on his forehead where the blood has dried. "You really need to see a doctor,” I insist.

He falls silent once more and doesn’t say a word for the rest of the half-hour drive. When we reach my apartment block, I turn to him. "Please, Q, come inside so I can, at least, clean your wounds."

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