Page 46 of Every Chance After

“I promise.”

He looks skeptical, sizing me up with those electric eyes of his. Once again, it looks like he has a million thoughts damned up behind his intense stare. I reach out, and his hand drifts easily into mine. His rough gentleness takes me back to my first night in the hospital when his hands around mine felt like a lifeline in a dark place. He kneels before me, enclosing my hand in both of his.

“Marina,” he says finally, “You might be the nicest, sweetest person I’ve ever met...”

I’m about to coo and gush thanks, but his stern look cuts me off.

“…But now is not the time fornice. Whatever you want or need takes priority. Understood?”

My eyes narrow while my lips curl into a smirk I can’t contain. “Go home, Grady.”

He laughs. “That’s my girl.”

Then, looking sheepish again, he diverts to the cats, giving them each a pet before heading to the door.

I close my eyes, breathing in the cold wave from him opening the door. My phone pings again—reminding me of Ashe’s text.

Are you mad?

I don’t know how I’m supposed to be. Notnice, I suppose. I push the soup away, my appetite gone. My side aches.

I lean against the back of the couch, closing my eyes and willing the pain pills to do their thing.Come on, little buddies. You can do it. Kick that pain’s butt.

My phone pings again.

I’ll book a flight home. I shouldn’t have listened to her.

But, you did listen to her, Ashe. You left.Wrangling my inner not-niceness, I type words I know I should say.

But then I can’t hit send and delete them.

Instead, I give him the words he wants. I always know what he wants me to say, like I’m a Magic 8 Ball of acceptable responses designed to appease him.

It’s okay, Ashe. I’m doing so well, I came home early. If you need time away, then you should take it.

I hit send quickly, wanting him to argue. Needing him to do the right thing on his own. Hoping he books that flight anyway, just because he misses me and knows I’m hurting. Clearly, he regrets taking his mom’s advice—maybe it took a plane ride for him to come to his senses.

I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. I’m exhausted. Glad you’re home. Is Mom taking good care of you?

I close my eyes, letting more disappointment settle atop the high stack like a wobbly game ofJenga. When will it become too much, making me fall over?

Another text pings, this time from Grady. My eyes roll that he uses my full name.

Marina

This is entirely fucked up.

My fault.

I only want to make this easier for you.

Tell me to back the hell off if I’m ever too much.

Grady.

I groan and whimper from the pain it causes. All these needy men!

Even worse, I can’t help but compare this stranger who wrecked everything to my almost-husband, who’s not even here.

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