Page 92 of Marrying Off My Husband

I’d felt a connection on our first few dates, but after last night, my feelings had intensified. Those sweet moments spent laughing over his game, particularly when I’d accidentally ended up on the top of a tree without trying, balancing precariously over the world, had only made my heart flutter more.

No other man had ever served me homemade soup because I was sick. Nor had they, with a soft laugh, tugged the game controller from my hands and carefully moved my character back to the ground below without a scratch.

“There you go,” he said as he handed the controller back with a smile. “Safe and sound.”

My fingers had brushed his as I collected it with a smile. I’d hoped the warmth in my cheeks would be mistaken for fever rather than flushing from the moment.

I slapped a hand against my forehead, hating how vulnerable I was in this fake relationship.

“You’re an idiot, Eve. A complete idiot. The man has no interest in you. Stop imagining he does. He probably did all of that because Louise told him to or to convince her that we’re still dating.”

My own words brought tears to my eyes. I chalked up the emotional moment to being sick. Everything was always more intense when you were sick, right?

A hot tear rolled down my cheek and splashed onto the paper below, marking it with evidence of my sorrow in the form of a wet splotch as I forced my glassy eyes to focus on the words.

Hey Eve - You fell asleep, and I didn’t want to wake you. I put the rest of the soup in the fridge for you for tomorrow. Hope you feel better! Spencer

P.S. If you wouldn’t mind texting me to let me know how you’re feeling, I’d appreciate it. Only if you feel up to it.

A smiley face followed the postscript. I sniffled at the words, feeling that connection again despite everything screaming at me that I shouldn’t. Tears filled my eyes for a second time. I tossed the note away and grabbed to the pain relievers as a distraction.

I was setting myself up for a huge fall. After a struggle to open them that culminated with a curse under my breath, I managed to open the bottle and shake two white tablets from it. After downing them with the stale water from last night, I forced myself to get up and refresh the glass.

A knock at my door on my way back to the couch sent my heart soaring as I wondered if it may be Spencer.

I pulled it open to find my sister instead.

“Wow, you look terrible,” Audrey said.

“Thanks,” I answered with a sniffle. At least my red eyes and nose could be attributed to my cold instead of my emotional breakdown over a man I shouldn’t be dating.

Audrey pushed past me and plopped onto the couch, wrinkling her nose at my crumpled blanket and plastic grocery bag brimming with used tissues.

I eased onto the cushion next to her, wrapping up in the fluffy fabric again.

Before I could speak, she grabbed the remote and aimed it at the television. “I doubt you’ll be in a talking mood, so we’ll watch some TV.”

The screen sprang to life, Mystic Realms appearing on it. My avatar sat next to Spencer’s on my new virtual couch. Spencer’s eyes were closed, indicating he was asleep–in other words, not logged in to play.

Audrey’s brow crinkled. “What is this?”

“Mystic Realms. Spencer’s game.”

“You were playing this?”

“Spencer and I were playing it last night. He stopped over with homemade soup for me.”

Audrey arched an eyebrow. “Wow. You managed to inspire a man to make you homemade soup and bring it over while you were sick?”

My pain relievers had yet to kick in, making me feel sufficiently awful to start with. The barbs flowing from my sister only added to my misery.

I took my frustration out by fidgeting with my blanket. “He’s pretty nice.”

She scoffed at the words. “He’s also married.”

“That didn’t stop you from coming on to him the other night when you crashed our date.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. “I didn’t crash your date. I happened to be walking along the beach and saw my sister. What did you want me to do? Ignore you? Then you’d be crying about that.”

---