Page 53 of Impending Consent

He nodded. "I respect that. Just don't make it sound like I forced you into this. I don't want your family thinking I'm some kind of predator."

I snorted. "Trust me, they'll know exactly who's at fault here. I have a history of impulsive decisions."

"Like the time you decided to dye your hair auburn but it came out pink because you bleached it first?"

I froze. "How did you know about that?"

"You told me. That night, when we were drinking. You said it was the dumbest thing you ever did but had to own it because Addisons don’t make mistakes."

A memory surfaced of me laughing, telling Rival about how I left my hair pink for three months just to prove that had been my initial plan.How much else had I shared that night?

"I need a minute," I said abruptly, heading for the stairs. "I've got calls to make before tomorrow."

"Sailor," he called after me. When I turned, he was watching me with those intense eyes that seemed to see right through me. "I meant what I said. I’m your husband. I defend you, always. Right or wrong."

I nodded and smiled before making my grand escape. I worked in my bedroom while Rival spent time in his shop. By late afternoon I received a weather alert that said we had heavy storms, so I closed my laptop and stretched, feeling tension throughout my body. When I made it downstairs, Rival was heading my way which meant he was ending his day too.

“Where you going?”

"I need to get those boxes before it starts raining.”

"I got you, stay here."

“I can help…”

“Can, but you’re not going to. I said stay here, Sail.”

I grinned and watched my husband stack three file boxes and bring them inside. I enjoyed the visual because watching Rival do anything was tantalizing. As Rival carried the heavy boxes inside, I hurried out the door and I grabbed my small duffel bag and slammed the trunk closed.

"Where do you want these?” He balanced the boxes while I locked us in.

"Just upstairs in my room is fine. I'll sort through them later."

He nodded, carrying them upstairs while I followed with my duffle over my shoulder. In my room, he placed the boxes neatly beside the closet against the wall, then turned to leave.

"Thanks.”

"No problem." He paused at the door. "Dinner in about an hour?"

"Sure."

Once he was gone, I unzipped the duffle and removed the item I'd specially packed but hadn't wanted him to see, a purple weighted hippo. Her fabric was worn from years of snuggling.

I hadn't been able to sleep peacefully the past few nights without Hippo who was my silent guardian through some of my toughest moments. I'd gotten her after TJ's breakdown, when my own anxiety started creeping in. The fear that I might have the same tendencies as my brother haunted me and the weight of the stuffed animal helped ground me when the pressure became too much.

It was embarrassing, childish even, but Hippo was my comfort object. The one vulnerability I kept hidden from everyone, even my siblings.

Something about her weight and familiar presence made me feel more at home. I was seconds away from tucking Hippo under my pillow, feeling instantly at ease knowing I had her close again, when Rival scared the shit out of me.

"What is that?"

I spun around to find him standing in the doorway with his eyes on Hippo, which I jerked out of view and held behind my back.

"Nothing. Just something from my apartment."

He stepped into the room, reached behind me, and grabbed Hippo, sending us into a tug of war until I released her, fearful that we’d split her in two. Rival handled her with care while he examined her."This doesn't look like nothing."

I crossed my arms defensively. "It's a stuffed animal, which you can clearly see. I've had her since TJ's situation."

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