Page 38 of The Amendment

“I think I’m just going to go to bed,” I said before Riley could answer, though judging by the look on his face, he was planning to decline the invitation, too.

“Don’t do that,” Peter protested.

“It’s fine. I need some rest anyway. The sun zapped me.” I gestured toward my sunburned arms.

Riley yawned from where he lay on the couch. “Are you sure?” Peter asked, appearing conflicted. I nodded. “What do you say, bud? Want to watch a movie with your old man?”

“I’m tired too,” he said. “Dylan said he’d take me fishing early in the morning before Julie gets here.”

“Oh. Well, okay then.” Peter stood up begrudgingly, kissing each of their heads.

“You don’t have to come with me,” I told him. “You can watch a movie if you want.”

“No, you’re right. We should turn in.” He flicked the TV off as the kids began to stand, making their way toward the bedrooms. “Good night, you two. We’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night.”

“Good night.”

Peter waited for me to finish up, but once I’d put the plates into the sink and washed my hands, I led the way toward the bedroom. I changed into my pajamas in silence and fluffed the covers, checking to be sure there were no spiders or other critters hiding in the folds of the sheets.

“Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t warn you about Julie. Dylan did mention it to me, but I was distracted. I forgot all about it.”

“You’ve been distracted a lot lately,” I said simply, slipping under the covers and turning my back toward him as he changed for bed.

“I know. I’ve had a lot going on.”

“Well, that’s news to me.”

He didn’t notice the sharpness in my tone. “It’s no big deal, really. Just work stuff, you know?”

“Mhm.”

Cool air hit me as he pulled the covers back and lay down next to me. “Everything okay?”

God, sometimes he is so oblivious.

I rolled over to face him, staring at him for a painful few seconds before I spoke. “Peter, why are you with me?”

His expression said I’d caught him off guard. He glanced around, as if he expected he was being pranked, then leaned forward, brushing a piece of hair from my eyes and tucking it behind my ear. “Why am I with you?” he repeated. “What do you mean?”

“Why are we together? Why did you want to marry me? Why do you want to stay with me?”

He gave a dry, confused laugh. “Um, because I love you. Where is this coming from?”

“But do you? Do you love me?”

“Of course I—”

“Because it seems like we just keep coming back to this place of secrets. Over and over again. And I’ve done all I can to prove to you that you can trust me, to prove that I’m here for you and going to stay here throughwhatever. I think I’ve been more than understanding about it all—”

“Is this about Julie?”

“God! No, it’s not about Julie. Can you just listen to me?”

“I’m trying, Ains. You’re not making any sense.”

“Because you haven’t let me finish,” I said through gritted teeth. “For goodness’ sake, just shut up. Stop thinking about how you’re going to react or lie your way out of this and just…just listen to what I’m saying.”

---