Page 132 of His Secret

“What did you want me to do? Continue to lie to myself? To you? Stay in this marriage even though I’m not?—”

I stop myself, realizing how the end of that sentence will sound. I’m not trying to be harsh, but honesty hurts sometimes.

“Not what?” she questions, her eyes still wet. “Not attracted to me? Not in love with me?”

“I think you’re beautiful, but?—”

“Don’t,” she says with a bite, holding her hand out.

“Our last fight was over how many times we’ve had sex. That’s how our marriage would be forever. I can’t make you feel the way you want. People have the need to feel desired, and I can’t give that to you.”

She scoffs, rushing past me to go back downstairs. After finding her purse, she takes the keys and bounds through the front door.

“Charlotte. We need to talk about this,” I say, following her out.

“You’ve said enough, Adrian. I don’t think I can handle you continuing to tell me you don’t love me or find me attractive.”

I sigh, finding myself frustrated, but trying to understand that she’s angry and hurt.

“I didn’t say either of those things and you know it. You’re stunning, but I’m not wired to appreciate it the way I should. It’s not just you, Charlotte.”

She yanks open the car door and throws her purse inside. “You’ve just completely upturned my life. I can’t even look at you right now.”

Before I can say anything else, she’s inside the car and slamming the door closed. I watch her reverse and take off down the street, hoping like hell that she stays safe.

I drop down onto the front steps and run my hands through my hair. A minute later, I hear the sound of steps on the grass.

Looking up, I find Matías watching me with an expression of sympathy.

I sigh, my shoulders dropping as emotion hits hard. My own tears well in my eyes, and Matías rushes over, sitting next to me on the steps. He wraps his arms around me and I melt into him, lost in the sound of his heartbeat.

“She said I ruined her life.”

He squeezes me tighter, kissing the top of my head. “She’s upset. She’ll realize later that what you did was set her free. You’ve both been trapped.”

“I didn’t even tell her about us.” I pull away. “Should I? She was already so hurt.”

He shakes his head slightly. “I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry for yelling and storming off earlier. I’m really on a roll tonight.”

“You’re fine,” he says, taking my hand in his and rubbing the top of it with the fingers from his other hand. “I’m sorry, too. The impromptu meeting with your father had me in a mood, and his words burrowed into my head, and I wondered if I should let you explore yourself. If that was the right thing to do.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I don’t even know what to do next. I can tell my dad that I told her. She’ll soon tell her own parents, and then my mom will know, and I’ll have to talk to my sister.” I sigh. “And then, I don’t know. She may move back to Chicago.”

“Yeah, you’ve got a lot going on.”

My phone rings from inside, so I jump up to get it.

“You can come in. I’ll be right back,” I say, rushing to the kitchen where I left it.

I don’t recognize the number, and I’m suddenly worried it’s a hospital or the cops.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Kennedy?”

“Yeah?” I ask, looking across the house at Matías as he steps in.

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