Page 138 of Marrying Off My Husband

I grabbed at it, expecting to see something warm from Theo. Instead, I found a message from Spencer.

No, it was more than a message, it was a confession, a plea. He admitted his mistakes, his fears, his loneliness.

My heart softened. I glanced at a sleeping Eve. Could there be a sliver of hope for him to mend things?

That depended on how far he was willing to go. Eve deserved nothing but the best, and so far, she’d gotten nothing but the worst from Spencer.

I licked my lips, crafting a return message.Glad to see you admitting that you made a mistake. That’s the first step. But before I help you, we have to talk.

I pressed the phone against my chest. Had I been too hard on him? No, I needed to protect Eve. She’d already been through too much. I wanted her to be happy. I’d played too fast and loose with her happiness before, so I had to guard it now.

He sent another message, the phone buzzing into my chest.Of course. Can I call?

I shook my head as I typed.No calls. It might wake Eve. I need to see your eyes when you speak, Spencer. The truth looks different in person. Meet me at Eve’s.

The chat bubble appeared and disappeared, indicating he was typing, but struggling to send the message. Finally, it appeared.Is that a good idea? I don’t think she’ll want to see me.

I raised my eyebrows.You’re not seeing Eve until you’ve been thoroughly vetted by me. I want to see you in person. I want to see your eyes when you answer my questions. If you want her back, come to Eve’s apartment. We’ll talk outside.

After a second, he texted an affirmative back.

As I watched for him to approach through the rain-soaked windows, I prepared myself to read his every expression, to gauge the true depth of his remorse. This wasn’t about words, it was about seeing the regret and resolve in his eyes, the determination for him to face the mess he’d made and see if through to the end.

Lights cut through the rainy night, and a car eased to a stop outside of Eve’s place. I hurried from the couch, pulling the door open and stepping out, careful to stay under the overhang.

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but large droplets still dripped from the eave.

I crossed my arms against the damp chill in the air as Spencer approached, his features set in a frown, concern etched into his features.

“Hey,” he ventured as he joined me under the tiny roof. “How is she?”

“Asleep. Thankfully.” I eyed him up and down. “I need some assurances from you before I help you.”

“Okay.” He nodded, jiggling his keys in his hands nervously as he shifted his weight. “That’s fair.”

“Oh, it’s more than fair. Besides, you don’t deserve fair in this, Spencer.”

He shrank at my words before he bobbed his head again. “You’re right.”

“That said…I do want you to be happy. So, I’m willing to help…under certain conditions.” I wagged a finger at him.

He held his hands up in defeat. “Name them.”

I raised my eyebrows. “If you’re serious about this, Spencer, then promise me–promisethat you’ll make her your priority. That you’ll always show her that she means the world to you. Can you do that?”

His agreement was immediate with a head bob. “Yeah, yes. I promise. Pinky swear. Whatever. I…I messed up, Lou. I should have already been doing that, and instead, I’ve been hiding behind all of my fear.”

His voice broke as he spoke, his eyes filling with regret as he flicked his gaze into the foggy night.

“Oh, Spencer,” I said, my shoulders slumping as I stepped closer and pulled him into a hug. “I want you to be happy. That’s why I gave you Eve.”

“I know. And I screwed it up. Royally.”

“But you’re going to fix it, right? And if you do, you’re going to have a lifetime of happiness.”

He sucked in a deep breath, and I spotted both fear and resolve burning in his eyes. “Tell me what to do. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Well, it’s going to have to be something big.”

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