Page 69 of Unmatched

I clench my jaw, watching her work with an enthusiasm she never seems to have for anything else.

“That all sounds nice.” My voice comes out hollow. “But who’s going to run it?”

Her brows draw together as she types. “I will?”

“And when Scarlet hurts her back? Or Tomás takes a vacation?” I get to my feet. “What do you do when they’re both off, then the new mobile groomer and the dog trainer call out sick?”

“I—I would?—”

“You would fill in. Do it all. Except you can’t.” My lip curls. “Lydia, I love you, and I believe you can do anything. But you can’t do everything.”

She stops typing to stare at me. “I don’t understand. I thought you just told me to go for it? You just applauded my ‘unimaginable success.’”

I rake my hand through my hair. “Look, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but quit while you’re ahead. Offers like this don’t come along every day.”

She stiffens. “I misunderstood. I thought you said you’d support me.”

“I do,” I say, grabbing her hand. “I support you taking care of yourself, doing what’s best for you.” I look into her eyes, desperate for her to hear me. “But you have to see there’s more to lose here than potential growth.”

She tilts her head, clearly not following. “I’m currently in the black, even with all the second location startup costs.”

“Lydia.” I wait for her to look at me, though she flinches when our gazes meet. “The Pooches may be in the black, but our marriage is in the red.”

Her mouth opens, but she doesn’t speak. I let go of her hand. Heartthrob wanders sleepily into the kitchen, probably trying to figure out why our voices are raised. I hate that I had to put it like that, but I don’t know what else to say. I’m not about to get back on Unmatched. I’ve had enough of that. But does she really expect me to stand by and clap while she puts a hundred and ten percent into everything but us?

“Is this about sex?” Her voice is cool as she rises to her feet.

The back of my throat burns. “This is about you and me.”

“Really?” She exhales. “Because lately it seems like you’re only interested in one thing.”

My body goes hot. I set my jaw, pushing words out through my teeth. “And what is that?”

“Come on, Anton,” she says, her tone suddenly less certain. “I’ve always thought we had something special, something bigger than most marriages. We’ve been together so long, it’s like we’re not just husband and wife. We’re best friends.”

“Best friends,” I say dryly.

She looks at me with a small smile, and my stomach sours.

“Lydia, we’re married. If you want to live with a ‘best friend,’ go get yourself a roommate, not a husband.”

I push past her for the coffeepot, refilling my mug to have an excuse to look away. She moves aside, face bright red as she pulls her robe chastely closed. “Maybe you’re forgetting what we did last night? And this morning?”

“Forgive me if I don’t get super excited,” I say, a void opening in my chest, “that my wife finally forced herself to touch me for the first time in months.”

“See? This is what I mean,” she hisses. “Everything is just about sex. It’s like I’m never enough for you!”

“Wrong,” I growl. “You. Are. Everything. I want you. But I don’t think you see how out of balance everything is. It’s not just sex. You put all you have into work, and there’s nothing left. We barely see each other. We don’t go anywhere or do anything together. Even when you’re around, it’s like you aren’t there. And now you want to add to that?”

“Look, I know I’ve been busy, but most of that has been because of the new?—”

“Oh yes, the new location. Everything will be better once it opens.” I scowl. “Until you start up the next one. And the next.”

“I’ll take a break in between.” She has the humility to blush. “Anyway, things will smooth out soon, and then I’ll have more time for...everything.”

My lip curls. “Sorry, I’m not super interested in waiting around until you have time for me.”

“What—that’s not what I meant!”

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