Page 99 of The One I Need
“I didn’t know Izzy when she was a teenager, but I can guarantee you didn’t deserve her then. You sure as shit don’t deserve her now. I have the woman of my dreams, and what do you have? A wife you probably cheat on and a child who’s one day going to be in therapy with daddy issues? Or worse, he turns out like you. But I should say thank you. Thank you for cheating on Izzy. It made her see what kind of man you truly were. And I’ll make sure that there isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t know how loved she is and how much better off she is without you.”
I shove Matt away. He stumbles a bit and is holding his nose. I look up to see that the whole funeral has gathered at the door, probably witnessing everything that just happened.
“Sorry,” I say, waving to the crowd. “Nice meeting you all.”
Izzy pulls my arm, and we quickly make it to our car. I turn it on and I’m about ready to pull out when Izzy all but jumps straddles me in the driver’s seat, kissing me harder than she ever has before.
“Wow,” I say with a heavy breath.
“Yeah, wow. That was amazing. You’re amazing.” Her hand slides down and starts rubbing my dick through my pants.
“Izzy. We’re at a church. I know we just swore like we weren’t in God’s house, but having sex in the parking lot might be pushing it.”
“Fine,” she says, going back to her seat. “But step on it. I didn’t realize my husband punching my ex would get me this horny.”
I throw the car into reverse before speeding out of the parking lot, kicking rocks and gravel up along the way.
Happy wife, happy life, am I right?
Chapter34
Oliver
“What’s wrong?”
I don’t take my eyes off the road as I turn off the highway heading back to Izzy’s downtown condo. “Nothing. Do you want to stop anywhere before I drop you off?”
“You’re deflecting, and I’d like to be done with that part of our lives,” she says. “Seriously, you’ve been abnormally quiet since we landed. You didn’t even comment on the puppy we passed a block back. It’s starting to freak me out.”
Funny that Izzy uses the phrase “freak out,” because that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since I heard the pilot announce we were back in Nashville. Because now we’re out of the bubble. We’re home. And I’m scared to death that once Izzy’s back to reality, she’s going to change her mind about us. I mean, I would understand. But also, it would be a punch in the gut. So yeah, freaking out would be an accurate description of what I’m doing right now.
I make the turn toward her building, but I don’t pull into the parking garage, instead choosing to find a spot on the street. Because I don’t know if she wants me to stay? Go? Move in? Make a new appointment with the lawyer? I know I need to talk to her, but I’m terrified of the possible outcome of the conversation.
“Are you not coming in?”
I look over to see a confused look on her face. “Do you want me to come in?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I shrug. “I didn’t want to assume.”
“Oh, Oliver.” She leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Come upstairs. Let’s talk.”
I do as she says, grabbing her bags from the trunk.
“Aren’t you going to grab yours?”
“I don’t know, am I?”
She smiles and tilts her head toward her door. “I figured you might want your things when you spend the night.”
With just those few words, I’m immediately relaxed. Granted, I won’t be completely relaxed until every little thing is on the table, but for the next few minutes, those words will hold me over.
“Sit,” she says once we get inside. “First, I’d like to apologize.”
I wasn’t expecting that. “For what?”
She takes a seat next to me, and maybe for the first time in our relationship, she grabs my hand first. Wow, it really does give comfort. “I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster the last four days. And I’ve taken you along for the ride.”
