Page 46 of Lightness In My Dark

My head fell to the side, another sob escaped, and then I said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.” With his arm around my waist, mine around his shoulders, he said, “Come on, let’s get you to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He guided me to my bedroom, where I fell onto the bed and passed out.

Chapter 20 – The Dust Settles

FINN

After half a pot of coffee and a shower, I stood outside Wren’s bedroom door, my fists opening and closing. In bed, the shower, and the kitchen, I had gone through all the things I wanted to say to Wren. By the time I got to her door, it all disintegrated. I hated myself for what I had done and having even to apologize for it. I gave the door a light tap and eased it open an inch or two. On the window seat, Wren turned away once she saw me. I shoved my hands into my jean pockets, my bare feet walking to the middle of the room.

“Wren.” She sighed when I spoke her name. “Can we talk?”

She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either. I sat across from her, leg bent on the seat with my arm over my knee, and the other foot on the floor.

I tried to settle my croaky voice, strained from yesterday.

“Uh…where to start?” I whispered to no one in particular.

My back straightened. “Wren, I owe you a huge apology for everything that happened yesterday. I am so sorry for hitting you. There is no excuse, and I promise you, it will never happen again.” She continued to look out the window, her thumb wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “As for the woman, well… it shouldn’t have happened.”

I let my apologies settle like used coffee grinds before I continued by clearing my throat. “On Thanksgiving, I heard you talking to Lindsey about wanting to cancel out of the contract.” This got her attention. Her puffy red eyes stared back at me. “If you want out, I’ll cancel the contract. It’s the least I could do after what I did.”

“What about the five million?”

“I’ll give you a million.”

“What?”

I wiped my face with my hand. “Wren, come on. Five million for three months?” She gestured an agreement.

Silence filled the air. I contemplated leaving, yet I had more to say.

Instead, she asked, “What will you do? About the CEO position?”

I shrugged, picking at a piece of thread from the hole in my jeans. “I’ll figure something out.”

Wren wedged her knees to her chest, folding her arms over them, and resting her chin on top.

“There is another option.” Her eyes flickered my way. “That’s if you’d consider it.” She raised her head with interest. I broached with caution. “We could stay in the contract, but not the way things are. We’d have to change.”

“Like what?”

“For starters, we wipe the slate clean from this point forward and get to know each other. We never did, or at least, I never did.” Wren gestured for me to continue. “I’d like to hear about your past, friends, and parents.” I tore off a piece of thread from my jeans, twisting it around my knuckle. “The next three years would be much better.”

“What else?”

“You wouldn’t be at my beck and call. That isn’t how a marriage works. Granted, I will still need you for dinners and events, but if you’re out and it’s the spur of the moment, then I’m out of luck.”

Wren bit her thumb. She was weighing the options. I didn’t want to see her go. I needed another incentive, and the idea hit me.

“And no messing around with others. If we’re going to make something of a three-year marriage, there’s no place for anyone else.”

Wren leaned on the wall. Her feet moved away from her body, arms extended, with her hands hanging over her knees. She let out a heavy sigh through clenched teeth. I let her think it over, because if I pushed, she might dismiss it all. A couple of minutes passed before she replied.

“Okay. I’ll stick around.” I let out the breath I held. My smile dropped when she held up her index finger. “I’m only doing this because I like Cole, Lindsey, Carter, and Chef Dan, and I’d miss them.”

My head bobbed and then I pushed out my bottom lip as if pouting. “They’re the only ones you’d miss?”

She sat cross-legged and leaned forward. “Well, no. I’d miss Jacob, too.” Wren shot me a wicked smile.

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