Page 18 of Run Game
She raises a brow, “You gonna teach me how topahk the cah?” she asks.
There’s my girl.
“Noooooo,” I say, drawing out the word. “I was gonna take you to awicked awesome pub, ya chucklehead.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s trying not to smile. “Just take me to get my new license, asshole.”
I feign offense. “Is that any way to address your husband after he just poured his heart out to you? You’re fucking brutal, Wifey.”
She looks over at me with a defiant look. “What are you going to do? Put me over your knee again?”
My brows just about fly off my head, surprised at the fact that she’s bringing that up right now, but I school my expression before reaching over to grab her face so I can look her in the eyes. “You’d better watch that smart mouth, bad girl, or you’ll find out.”
ELEVEN
DIA
MADS: Helllloooooo? Are you alive?
DIA: Nope. *skull emoji*
MADS: Haven’t heard from you in 9 million years, so I wasn’t sure.
DIA: OK, that’s a little dramatic. It’s been 2 days.
MADS: Name the last time we went 2 days without at least checking in. I’ll wait.
MADS: You can’t
DIA: Sorry. Yes, I’m alive. I’m safe. Not dead in a ditch somewhere. Did that ease all of your intrusive thoughts?
MADS: Yep.
I setmy phone down on Dalton’s kitchen table,feeling immediate guilt for omitting the fact that I’m in the same city as Mads, but hiding from her. I don’t want to, but I’m not ready to let her know what’s going on right now. I’m not sure I wantanybodyknowing what’s going on right now. Which is exactly why I’ve been holed up here since we got back from the RMV.
After we left the courthouse yesterday, Dalton took me to get my new driver’s license. He only agreed to stay in the car if I put his last name on it, so I relented. I didn’t want to be followed in there by a six foot one, two-hundred-and-twenty-pound man-child who everyone in the place would recognize and flock to. Knowing him, he’d flash his wedding ring to everyone who came close enough. It would only be a matter of time before photos of a married Dalton Davis would be plastered all over the internet. No fucking thanks.
So, I’m officially Diamond Davis in the eyes of the state of Massachusetts. At least for the next six weeks.
We also agreed that I would stay here instead of spending unnecessary money on a hotel room until we can file our divorce papers. That way, I can take all the cash from the sale of my ring and use it to settle into a new place in Boston before I have to find a job. Continuing to hide from Mads will be difficult, but she thinks I’m in Chicago, so as long as I text and call to check in, it shouldn’t raise too many red flags.
Dalton left about two hours ago to meet with a jeweler friend who agreed to buy my ring. I would never say it out loud, but it killed me to watch him walk out the door with it. I’ve never owned a piece of real jewelry before. My parents certainly weren’t worried about providing me with anything other than the basic necessities in life, and I’ve never been able to afford to treat myself beyond theoccasional haircut and color or new outfit. But beyond that, it’s a memory of our crazy night in Vegas that will now be sitting on someone else’s finger. And the worst part of all is that they probably won’t even know how special it is.
I shake the thoughts from my head as I walk over to the cupboard and try to find something to eat. I haven’t had much of an appetite the last couple of days, but thankfully I’m feeling better now that we have a plan of action. Even though staying married and living here for the next month and a half isn’t ideal, it could be worse. The silver lining is that once this is all said and done, I’ll be closer to Mads. I won’t have to feel so alone anymore.
Even though it’s almost bedtime, I’m finally eating for the first time today. My stomach growls and I zero in on a box of cereal on the top shelf. I stretch my arm toward it, realizing that I’m just too short to get my fingers on it. I look around the room, double checking that I’m still alone before planting my hands on the counter in front of me and hoisting myself to my knees. Just as I go to grab the box, a throat clears behind me, making me lose my balance. I brace myself for inevitable impact but am caught by a strong set of hands gripping my waist.
“Holy fuck, Dia!” Dalton says. “You trying to crack your head open?”
I glower at him over my shoulder. “If you didn’t sneak in here like a fucking ninja, I wouldn’t have slipped.”
He lifts me into the air like I weigh nothing before setting me back onto my feet. Reaching over me, he easily grabs the box of cereal, pulling it down. I reach out, expecting him to hand it to me, but instead, he carries it across the kitchen and opens the cupboard that holds his dinnerware. He takes down a large bowl before turning tothe stainless-steel refrigerator and grabbing the milk. I watch, confused, as he pours the cereal and milk into the bowl before setting it in front of me with a spoon.
“Eat,” he orders, making my jaw drop becausehell no. He is not about to tell me what to do.
“No,” I reply.
He raises a dubious brow. “No?”
