Page 29 of Hers to Marry
“Yes!”
“For how long? How long, Parker?”
“Until my company moves me elsewhere. Really, Andrew, you act as though this is the first time you’re hearing this.”
“Because thisisthe first time, Parker! You told me you were doing an important project, but younevertold me we’d be moving overseas.”
He struggled to keep his temper in check, but the longer he stared at Parker’s stern and determined face, the more he felt he had been lied to. Was it possible that he had misunderstood? That she had told him and he wasn’t listening?
“Don’t you dare!” She pointed a finger at him. “I supported you for a long time, Drew. Alongtime. You were depressed…suicidal! Do you have any idea the emotional toll I went through trying to climb the corporate ladder and keep the guy I was dating from killing himself? All I’ve ever asked is for you to support me in my dreams. It’smyturn now.”
She said those last four words with such authority it shocked Drew’s system. Had he been selfish? Was it wrong of him to expect her to keep giving and not receiving anything in return?
“I have dreams, too,” she continued. “I’ve never been secretive about that. You knew what you signed up for when you met me.” She crossed her arms and kept her gaze forward. “When you proposed to me.”
Drew settled his own gaze on the cars in front of him in the parking garage. He didn’t bother putting the car into gear and driving. He might run off the road, he was so distracted.
With a quick flick of her fingers, Parker turned on the air conditioner, blasting them in the face. The air chilled Drew’s ire, and realization settled like a block of ice in his stomach.
“We’re not on the same page,” he whispered.
“You’re not on the page we agreed to,” she countered. “I was never going to give up my position to slum it in Springfield. I’m working the largest deal of my career, merging two companies. If I’m successful, I’ll be the president of the international division. That’s one step below president of the whole company. I’m theyoungestpersoneverin my company to be in this position. Theyoungest! Do you understand how amazing that is? What doors could be opened for me?”
It was an incredible opportunity, he silently agreed. It’s not like he would ever want to hold her back. But he didn’t want to kill his dreams either. “What about kids?”
She sputtered. “Sure, they’ll come. But not in the next few months. I have to stay focused on the merger and then the transition. It’ll be at least a year before everything gets ironed out. Were you expecting me to be barefoot and pregnant as soon as I said ‘I do’?”
Drew smarted. “Of course not.”
“Then there’s no issue there.”
Except that’s not how he felt. It might always be another excuse or reason and they would put off kids again. She was already dictating where they would be for the next year or so. Didn’t he have a say?
“This is a partnership, Drew. I thought we respected each other.”
He raked a hand through his hair and shoved his feet deeper into the floorboard. “I do respect you, Parker. And I’m immensely proud of you. I’m your biggest supporter, you know that.”
She gave him a side-glance. “But?”
He shrugged. “But I’m not so sure this will…work.”
“What won’t work?” she asked with venom lacing her tone. “Our marriage? I’m willing to fight for us. Why aren’t you?”
“Fight forus, not fight.”
“When did you start having cold feet?”
Exasperated, he shouted, “I don’t have cold feet, but I don’t want to live in London!”
“You can do your job from anywhere! You can’t sacrifice for me? I haven’t askedanythingfrom you except to consider the bright future you could have if you stayed alive. Now you want to demand I do everything your way?”
Drew yanked the gear and slammed on the accelerator. He whipped and weaved around the garage. “I’m not demanding anything,” he seethed.
“Well, I demand you stop driving like alunatic. You trying to get us killed or just me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“You’re the one being ridiculous!”
