Page 171 of Dirty Husband
It's Jasmine.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Shepard
"Good morning." Jasmine's eyes meet mine for a moment then they're back on Key. "I'm okay. And you?"
"Okay?" Key's voice is incredulous. "That's one way of putting it." She turns to me with that motherlywhat are you doinglook. "Weddings are hard. People fight. It's normal."
"You can tell Miss Lee that she can leave," I say. "There's no reason for her to be here."
"You can tell Miss Lee that," Key says. "She's right here."
"Fine." My fingers curl into fists. My staff knows better than to defy me. They know to follow my fucking orders.
Not that I have ground at the moment. I lost all of it last night. And I…
I'm not angry she's here.
I want to be. I want to throw that empty bottle at the wall. So the shattered glass falls at her feet. So she knows exactly what this is.
But not because I'm angry.
I want her here.
It's ridiculous. She already knows too much. If she stays, she's going to learn more. And I can't—
This can't—
I clear my throat. "Then tell Lock—"
"Who do you think drove Miss Lee here?" Key nearly rolls her eyes. "I'll have tea in a few minutes. Milk oolong? Or gaba?"
"Milk oolong. Thank you," Jasmine says.
"Did you have breakfast, Jasmine? I'm happy to fix something. Or some tea cakes perhaps?"
"Sure, yes. The tea cakes." She nods another thank you and turns to me. She waits until Key is in the kitchen to approach.
I move from my seat. To the sliding glass door. "You should go."
"Maybe."
"Is there a problem with your check? An error? Or is it not enough?" Or maybe Lock's fucking with me. Pretending as if he forgot it. Pretending I forgot a signature.
"Yes." She takes three steps towards me. "I'm not cashing it."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"We have a deal. A marriage. Another year."
"No. I broke our terms. I drank last night."
She shakes her head. "I looked again. If you drink, I can end the deal. You have no say."
Fuck. She's right. I didn't think it would matter. I didn't think I'd be this pathetic.
"Dad is feeling better, but that's not a guarantee. I want him to walk me down the aisle. I want him to know someone is taking care of me. And I'm not going to find some random stranger on the street."
