Page 11 of Broken Vows

It’s Sunday afternoon,and for once, the house doesn’t feel empty. Jeremy sits beside me on the couch, his presence both comforting and nerve-wracking.

“I know work’s been crazy for you, but I miss us. What if we made a plan? On days you’re home by seven, we could have dinner together, talk a bit before bed?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I can almost see the gears turning in his head. “That could work,” he says slowly. “And on weekends, when I’m not working, we could do something together? I know I’ve been on the game a lot…”

A small spark of hope ignites in my chest. “Really? That would be great.”

He nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, I’d like that. I know things have been… off lately.”

I reach out, taking his hand in mine. It feels warm, familiar. “I just want us to be us again,” I say softly.

He squeezes my hand, and for the first time in weeks, I feel like we’re on the same page. “Me too, Lex. Me too.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon on the couch, scrolling through tv for something to watch. It feels almost normal, and my shoulders don’t feel so tense.

“Oh, how about this one?” I say, pointing to a cheesy rom-com.

He groans playfully. “Really? You know I can’t stand those.”

I stick my tongue out at him. “Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise I won’t make you watch another one for at least a month.”

He raises an eyebrow. “A whole month? I doubt it.”

I roll my eyes, letting out a laugh.

As the movie starts, I snuggle closer to him, relishing the feeling of his arm around me. It’s been so long since we’ve done this, just existing together without the weight of the world on us.

Halfway through the movie, he shifts beside me.

“Hey, I’m gonna use the bathroom real quick,”

I nod, pausing the movie. “Want me to wait for you?”

“Nah, go ahead. I might be awhile. Stomach’s been acting up again.”

As he disappears down the hall, I can’t help but worry. He’s been complaining about stomach issues for weeks now, but he keeps brushing off my suggestions to see a doctor. Maybe it’s time I take matters into my own hands. I make a mental note to look up some healthier recipes. A change in our diet might help, and honestly, it couldn’t hurt either of us.

The minutes tick by, and I glance at the clock more frequently. He’s been in the bathroom for almost an hour now. I try to focus on the movie, but my mind keeps wandering, worry gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.

Just as I’m about to get up and check on him, I hear the bathroom door open. Jeremy shuffles back into the living room, looking a bit pale but offering a weak smile.

“Sorry about that,” he mumbles, sinking back onto the couch beside me. “Told you it might be awhile.”

I bite my lip, debating whether to push the issue. “Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor? This has been going on for weeks now.”

He shakes his head, waving off my concern. “It’s fine, Lex. Probably just stress or something I ate. It’ll pass.”

I’m not convinced, but I let it go for now. We’ve made progress today, and I don’t want to ruin it by nagging. Instead, I lean into him, breathing in his familiar scent. “If you’re sure,”

We finish the movie in comfortable silence, and as the credits roll, I realize how late it’s gotten. The sky outside has darkened, and a quick glance at my phone shows its past 9 PM.

“We should probably think about dinner,” I say, stretching as I stand up.

He yawns, looking more relaxed than he has in days. “Actually, I’m not really hungry. That stomach thing, you know?”

I nod, understanding. “How about we just call it a night then? We can curl up in bed?”

He smiles, and it reaches his eyes this time. “That sounds perfect.”

---