Page 46 of Assigned

A couple of seconds later, Marge emerges, leading Lucas out the door. I can’t help but laugh. She’s a petite woman, maybe five feet, and she’s dragging my six-foot-two husband around by the ear. He’s bent over at the waist, shuffling after her and begging for mercy.

“Marge, I’m sorry,” Lucas protests. “Look, it was Tony’s idea.”

Inara and I walk over to where all four men and Marge are gathered. Though my feet start dragging the closer I get, because the expression on Marge’s face is scary to say the least. Yet, surrounding the adults are laughing children who have their mouths covered as if they could hide their amusement.

“You two are lucky I don’t beat you to death. Considering you kept your shenanigans outside and nothing broke in the house, I’ll let it slide.” Marge releases Lucas’s ear and pokes him and Tony in their chests as she speaks. “But the jokes stop now. You want to play games that lead to you dolts getting your butts kicked, do it on base. Not at my house. Capisce?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the two say in unison.

Marge turns to Jim and Bear. “And you two, drop it. It’s over. I don’t want to hear another word about getting egged. Get over it.”

Jim grunts while Bear huffs, neither man uttering a word.

“Everyone go get cleaned up. It’s almost time to eat.” Marge turns and marches back inside.

Inara and I follow to help her set up. Hayden, Marge and Bear’s oldest daughter who just got home from college, pulls some bowls from the refrigerator and hands them to us. We carry them to the tables set up outside. There’s a large bowl of tricolored pasta salad, complete with tomatoes and feta cheese. There is also a vegetable salad with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and green bell peppers mixed in olive oil. Another bowl contains herb-roasted squash.

Tony walks in to grab the potatoes and corn for Bear to cook on the barbeque. Peeking out the window, I spot Marge’s husband with Lucas standing next to him, all the animosity from the egging completely gone. Since everything is pretty much set up, I head outside and make my way over to him.

The smell of barbeque ribs floods my nose. If only I could partake the way I want to. But that would mean dealing with the repercussions, including inflaming my GI tract. Not something I’m willing to do. The risk isn’t worth the reward. I’ve learned that the hard way.

When I reach my husband, I wrap my arms around him. “Hey there, handsome. Glad to see you made it out of the egging fiasco in one piece.”

He chuckles and Bear glares at him before turning to me. “Riley, how cooked do you want your salmon? Or do you want chicken burgers instead?”

My brows furrow. “You guys eat chicken burgers? Thought this was a red meat and potatoes gang.”

Lucas wraps his arm around my waist. “Called Bear yesterday to make sure there would be food you were able to eat.”

What. The. Hell.

My pulse thunders in my ears. Please, God, tell me I heard this man wrong. That he didn’t make some big deal about my condition to the hosts of a party we’re attending. My heart sinks as it all starts to make sense. Salmon. Chicken burgers. Those side dishes. I feel so exposed, like I’m standing naked in front of these people, and Lucas is the one who stripped me bare.

I remove myself from his embrace and shake my head. I knew this would happen. I trusted him and he has wasted no time in betraying me. My nostrils flare. “Can I talk to you?” I try to keep my tone even, but I’m failing.

Lucas eyes me suspiciously, then follows as I walk away from his teammate. When we are a safe distance away from other guests, I spin around and glare at my husband, eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Why would you say anything to them about what I can and can’t eat? Why would you tell them about my condition?”

My husband takes a step back. “Because I wanted to make sure you could enjoy the party. I was trying to help.”

“Without asking me? Without letting me know?” I close the distance between us and poke him in the chest the way Marge had, but with less good humor. He’s doing it. I should have known he wouldn’t be able to help himself. He’s overstepping. Going too far. Not letting me handle my business the way I choose. “What you should have done was speak to me first before putting my information on blast to your friends. It’s a breach of my privacy. I decide when people get to know about my medical condition. Not you. There are reasons I don’t tell many people about it.”

He goes to place a hand on my shoulder but I pull away. “Riley—”

I hold up a hand. “No, shut it. I don’t want to hear an apology. What you did... do you understand how much I don’t want people treating me differently? Seeing me as the sick girl who has to get special treatment?”

My gaze drops to the ground. He broke my trust. Ruined the dream I had of people seeing me as normal. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. It’s worse than that. Based on my husband’s actions, that’s how he sees me. As another person for him to take care of. Like I can’t do it myself. I can’t even pick and choose what I’m going to eat without help. Once again, I’m the sick girl.

The one Goddamn thing I didn’t want in all of this.

Without saying another word, I turn on my heel, say a quick goodbye to Marge, Hayden, Inara and Taya, grab my things, and head to the car. So much for enjoying the day. How quickly life changes.

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