Page 78 of Finding Forever

Why, indeed?

“You don’t want to talk or anything? About what happened?”

When she gave him a blank stare he coughed into his fist, feeling like a fucking idiot.

“We’ve already said everything that needed saying about that.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I think we both know where we stand, right?”

She stepped onto the patio and sat down sideways on the lounger next to his, facing him with her knees pressed together and ankles neatly crossed. He moodily glowered at her exposed skin.

“Did you put on sunscreen?”

“I won’t be out here for too long.”

He shook his head, got up, and noisily dragged over the heavy patio umbrella, opening it up right next to her lounger. She watched him with a slightly bemused expression on her face while he shifted the umbrella slightly to ensure she was completely protected from the midday sun.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said mildly, after he sat back down.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you.” She linked her fingers together and lowered her hands to her lap, watching him for a moment before speaking again. “Thereissomething I’d like to discuss.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t want to move to London,” she said, her words emerging in a rush. “I know you’re based there and I know youhave to return for work and everything, but I’d be happy to stay here on my own when you leave.”

Cade’s immediate, visceral reaction to her words was overwhelmingly negative. What was she suggesting here? That he leave her behind? Alone? In the same country as Abernathy?

He bit back his instinctive reply which was a resoundinghell noand instead—ignoring the throbbing in his head—tried to read her expression in an attempt to figure out where this was coming from.

She kept her eyes downcast though and her expression was uncharacteristically blank.

“Why?”

“I’ve done some research and believe it would be best if I obtained my degree here.”

“Separating so soon after the wedding will add credence to all the shit Abernathy’s been spewing about our marriage.”

“We can call it a long-distance relationship while I complete my studies. We can visit each other regularly to keep up appearances. I could stay here. Or find a completely different place, maybe somewhere close to Gideon and Beth?”

“No. I don’t like it.”

“It’s whatIwant,” she said, shocking him with her assertiveness.

“If we’re going to do this, we have to do it right, Fern.” Cade was baffled by Fern’s abrupt about-face. It would be of zero benefit to either of them to split this early in their marriage. She should know that. “Separating now makes no sense.”

Chapter

Nineteen

Cade wasn’t sure where the fuck this was coming from but it pissed himoff.

“That wasn’t the agreement,” he reminded. “Three years, remember?”

“We said we’d stay married for three years, that doesn’t mean we have to co-habit.” She sucked her top lip into her mouth and stared at him pensively before asking, “When do you plan to leave?”

“I was thinkingwecould leave next week.”

“What about Christmas?”

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