Page 74 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

“What woman?”

“The one who was by your side when I arrived. You know me, Ster. I don’t miss anything. Judging by the body language, you two seemed close. She also looked a little uncomfortable at my arrival.”

“Putting that psychology degree to good use,” I snarl, not answering her question.

She’s too smart for her own good. And she never misses anything. Our whole relationship was her constantly psychoanalyzing everything. It drove me crazy just how well she was able to see into me. Kind of the way Emilia does. The difference is, Emilia’s intrusion is calm, soothing. Marissa has a habit of cutting me open in the worst ways.

“What’s her name? She’s pretty.”

“That’s what Sean said the first time he saw her,” I state, not meaning for the words to have a bite but they do regardless.

“Sean knows her?” she asks quietly. “Does he like her?”

“He’s… fond.”

“That’s good,” Marissa murmurs.

When I look at her, there’s a devastated expression on her face. One she quickly covers up. Alright, now I’m worried. As a wife, Marissa drove me crazy. But she’s a good person and one of the few people I’ve ever opened my heart to.

We arrive at my bedroom and I lead her inside, closing the door behind us. Marissa takes a seat on my bed, her hands running over the sheets. Her eyes get this faraway look for a moment.

“So this is your childhood bedroom,” she says softly. “It’s nice. We should have visited Edenton when we were married.”

“We were too busy for that,” I reply, grabbing a chair at my desk and dragging it over to sit in front of her. I spread my legs forward, crossing my ankles. “Alright, let’s hear it. Your big excuse. It had better be good, Marissa.”

She smirks. Instead of talking, she lies down on the bed. She sighs softly.

“You know you’re my best friend, Ster?”

I shake my head even though she can’t see me.

“Nah, I’d say it’s more Carson at the moment,” I say, only half joking.

I remember how pissed he was earlier. We need to have a conversation about his sister. And I have no clue how it’s going to go. I need to do so many things.

Marissa frowns. “Carson?”

“Yeah, I’ve told you about him. I grew up with him here in Edenton. He’s Emilia’s brother.”

“Oh,” Marissa says, looking at me. “So her name’s Emilia?”

I roll my eyes. “Would you drop it?”

“Not a chance in hell.” She laughs lightly. “You know, you get this look in your eyes when you’re in love. It’s this soft, ‘I’d burn the world for you’ look. Even saying her name makes the corners of your eyes softer.”

“I’m not in love with Emilia,” I stay stiffly.

“But you’re halfway there,” she retorts sadly. “Oh, Sterling. What are we going to do?”

I run a hand through my hair. “Talk to me, Marissa. Come on. Where have you been the past couple of months?”

“In Germany,” she answers lightly. “Thought I’d go on vacation. And it was so fun I just didn’t want to come back.”

“Bullshit,” I snap. “What were you really up to in Germany?”

She sits up at that, all traces of amusement wiped from her face. Her eyes are glassy and the sight has me reeling.

“What are we going to do, Sterling?” she asks again, heartbreak in her voice.

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