Page 41 of Wanted

After a couple more kisses, he gets up and extends his right hand to help me do the same.

“I need to call my mother,” I say, abruptly changing the subject, putting distance between us.

“And I’m going to warm up the pie again.”

Before leaving the room, he puts his phone in my hands. A new one, of course, because he lost the old one the day he was attacked. I would have taken the opportunity to go through his phone, but two things come to mind. The first, as I said before, the phone is new, I won’t find more than calls from his mother and work. The other, he’s offering me privacy, I should have the same courtesy for him.

“You think you can get used to that life?” my mother asks after I’ve told her everything that has happened since we left the hospital. “Lionel is a very important man, and with that comes many commitments. Do you think you’re ready for that?”

I think about it for a moment and decide to answer her truthfully.

“We’re taking things slowly,” I explain. “We have a lot to work out before we take on those commitments. And Lionel isn’t like those millionaires in the movies, Mom, he’s quiet and likes to be at home. Deep down I think we have a lot in common.” Saying that, I feel a little silly, but she’s my mother, she isn’t going to judge me for that.

The truth is that we still have a lot to discover.

“He’s your husband and your place is next to him.” I know how she thinks. My mother doesn’t believe in the word divorce, for her it’s an abomination. “But I fear you will lose yourself and never be able to find your way back.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I tell her. I don’t know how I would survive another disappointment, though.

* * *

“Hadley, my assistant, is going to bring me some paperwork I need to review,” Lionel tells me as he takes a good bite out of his pie and licks some crumbs off his lips with his tongue. How I want to be the one to do that for him. Somehow I manage to contain myself, concentrating on what I have on the plate in front of me.

The truth is that it is very good, the pie, I mean—and with cheese—it makes a delicious combination.

I had never seen white cheddar cheese, for me it was always yellowish, but every day you can experience something new.

“I’ve asked her to get you a phone and a computer too, I think you need both.”

Nope, I don’t need any of that. He better get that idea out of his head before we have another fight of epic proportions.

“I don’t need a new phone, just a charger. Nor a computer, I can manage with the notebooks and the phone.”

It doesn’t feel right to start receiving gifts, especially when they’re expensive ones. That would make me feel like I’m selling myself.

“The computer will make it easier for you to study for the test. Remember that you have to look things up on the internet, and maybe get an online tutor. Those things can’t be done from a phone, much less using such an archaic model.”

I stare at him, lips tight. We’re back at square one.

“I-I’m not making fun of what you’ve already accomplished with what you have,” he reasons, his gaze fixed on mine, without hesitation. “I’m just trying to help you, to offer you the tools to make your life easier, think about it from a productivity point-of-view.”

“I can accept it,” I begin, and victory shines momentarily in his eyes. “As a loan.”

Fuck, I hear him say under his breath as he looks up at the ceiling.

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he questions.

“That’s the deal, take it or leave it.”

And there are no more offers, that’s the way it will be. I will not compromise on this, it’s my way or the highway.

“Where did it go that with my body, I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow? What is the use of having a lot of zeros in my bank account when I can’t give my wife a new phone?”

Seriously?

“You brought this upon yourself…”

“Punishment?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

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