Page 34 of Kiss From A Rose

She chuckled. "When I first started, Gray, every time I did you grumbled and said you wished she didn't call so much. So, I stopped telling you."

"But I told you she left, so you knew this was important," I accused.

"More the reason not to tell you."

It wasn't Aimee's fault, I realized. This wasmy fault. I'd given everyone in my lifecarte blancheto fuck with my wife.

"Next time she calls, you let me know immediately. Actually, I will reroute my phone, so I get my calls myself from now on."

"Gray, I'm your assistant; it's my job to—" she protested.

"You no longer have to field my cell phone calls." I picked up my phone and removed call forwarding, which was set up for the long hours we worked. My kids texted more than they called, so I never missed out on them wanting to reach me. But apparently, I did ignore Rose's messages because I was a useless fucking husband.

"Gray? Are you okay?" Aimee's concern grated on my nerves

"No, Aimee, I'm not. I'm trying to get my wife back home, so it doesn't help when you don't tell me when she calls."

Aimee sighed. "She left weeks ago, Gray."

My jaw tightened. "Please send that tender out; remember to cc everyone on the team so they can all give their input. Thank you, Aimee."

I was already angry when I called Rose, and then I let my temper run away. I didn't need anyone to tell me that my first conversation in three weeks with my wife didn't go well. If anything, I may have helped her feel better about her decision to leave me.

I needed help.

I needed…Rose.

Why couldn't she just come home? I just needed to hold her and….

I hung my head in shame. I yelled at her. Instead of saying, I love you, come home, I told her she could go fuck herself.

Feeling helpless, I called Holden.

"I talked to her."

"And?"

"I think I may have damned myself some more."

"Atta boy," he said sarcastically. "What did you say?"

I gave him the Cliff's Notes.

"Wow! You go big, and obviously, your wife ain't goin' home."

"I don't know what to do, Holden."

I'd never felt this helpless, this out of control in my life.

"Gray, you want your wife back?"

"Yes."

"Then man the fuck up and go see her. Tell her how you feel. And before you do any of that, understandyouwrongedthis woman.Ifand a bigif…she forgives you, you make it right. Otherwise, you make sure she's financially comfortable and leave her be."

I didn't know when it happened, but my younger brother had become wiser than me.

"I can't breathe without her," I confessed, rubbing my chest. It hurt to be without Rose. It fucking hurt!

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