Page 31 of Hold Me Before You Go

If Robert found out, he would go to my father, and I would be scolded again. However, there wouldn’t be any fixing it this time. Robert would leave me, just like he threatened to do six months ago when he caught me having a small muffin from a coffee shop.

I couldn’t lose my husband. We were a united front, after all. We had an image to protect, and it meant everything to my father, who was running for his second term as mayor. My marriage to Robert was the greatest gift my father had given me, and like he always said, I needed to learn to be grateful, so I was doing just that.

“Alright, I’ll talk to you soon,” Robert said on the other side of the door, jolting me from my thoughts.

I jumped slightly, straightening myself and double-checking my outfit. My hair was swooped back off my neck, my curls tucked in and out of sight, just like Robert preferred. I was excited to see his reaction, hoping it would be a pleasant one.

I needed tonight to go perfectly.

Tonight was the night Robert was going to make love to me and stay inside me—the entire time. For the duration of ourrelationship, he’d always worn a condom and pulled out. He told me once that having a child would be foolish for us to do right now because we were too young. That was years ago, when we were dating. Now, we were well into our marriage, and I believed I was ready for a child.

I was ready to finally have a family—with the man I loved.

I plastered my best smile on my face, raised my fist, and lightly knocked on the door. “Robert?” I called.

“What is it, Carrie?” he asked, sounding like I was bothering him.

I bit my bottom lip, deciding whether I should continue bothering him. Whoever was on the phone must’ve pissed him off. I stood there, weighing my options, and before I knew it, the door was being pulled open, revealing the man I loved.

Robert was handsome, always had been, but there were men out in the world who were more so. That thought always lingered in my mind, but I usually pushed it back. I shouldn’t be thinking like that, not about my husband.

He’d given me such a wonderful life thus far.

I didn’t have to work.

We shared a beautiful home, and he bought me the best clothes money could buy.

He loved me and I loved him.

So, I didn’t understand why I was always lying awake at night, wondering what was missing.

“Carrie, I’m busy,” he snapped, pulling his cherry red tie loose.

Busy?

I looked at him, taking in his work clothes and his messy hair. His skin was also flushed and—

Where was his belt?

“Carrie,” he barked, causing me to flinch.

My eyes met his, and all I saw was fury within his dark pools. “We have to leave in thirty minutes,” I reminded him gently.

“What?” he asked, his brows coming together, confusion washing over his features like a cold shower.

A lump formed in my throat.

Could he have forgotten?

Why hasn’t he looked at the dress yet?

I cleared my throat. “O-our anniversary dinner? We have a reservation for seven.” Robert blinked, saying nothing, so I pressed on. “It’s our anniversary, remember? I know you’ve had a lot on your plate, and I under—”

“You expect me to go out with you, for our anniversary dinner, when you look like that?” he asked, spitting out the last word.

Yeah, today wasn’t a good day.

“Robert—”

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