Page 55 of Two Friends in Marriage
God, relationships are complicated.
“At first,” I say, “I thought the itching was, like, a strange expression of physical attraction.Since, you know, I’m not used to experiencing attraction.”
He looks like he’s trying to hold back laughter, but when I chuckle, he chuckles, too.
Marriage isn’t quite what I thought it would be.
“Where’s Benny?”Nolan is right in front of me again, and I’m disoriented for a moment, but I manage to hold up the correct car.
“Are you ready to go home?”Evan asks.
“No!”
“Five more minutes, okay?”
“Okay, but Auntie Jane has to come with me.”He grabs my hand and takes me toward the swings.He rarely seems to walk anywhere; he’s always running.“Sit down,” he commands, pointing to a swing.
I sit.He tries to push me, but I don’t move much.When he pushes me again, giggling, I make myself swing, just a little.
“Here, let me help you,” Evan says.
He moves behind me, and now there are two pairs of hands on my back, one much larger than the other.Evan’s hands are higher, and they push me gently but firmly, and I don’t have to make myself swing this time.Nolan’s giggles ease something jagged inside me.
“Okay,” Evan says at last.“It’s been five minutes—”
“How do you know?”Nolan asks.“You didn’t look at your phone.”
Eventually, Evan manages to coax Nolan away from the playground, and we head back to the apartment building.There’s a bit of a slowdown when Nolan wants to eat some so-called blueberries off a bush—they’re definitely not blueberries—but we get there eventually.
As dusk starts to settle, Evan drives us home.I’d planned to drive back, but he said I should have my hands free to scratch myself.How sexy.
At home, I remove the offending articles of clothing, take an antihistamine, have a shower, and put on some clothes that I know weren’t washed in the last load.I give my shirt a sniff.The difference in scent is very faint, which must be why I didn’t notice earlier.
When Evan walks around his bedroom while brushing his teeth, I’m already in his bed, and he looks a little surprised to see me here.
“Do you want me to sleep in my room today?”I feel a flicker of disappointment, but he’s free to have his bed to himself if he wants.
“No, I’m glad you’re here.I just thought you might not want…”
“Of course I want.”
He smiles at me as well as he can with a toothbrush in his mouth, then returns to the bathroom, and I think back on what I said.
Of course.
But I only started sharing his bed less than a week ago.It was never the plan, yet now it seems only right.
When he climbs in next to me, I pull him close.
“Let’s go out tomorrow night,” I murmur.
Chapter 18
Evan
Iwakeupjustafter seven on Sunday morning.My most important task for the day: to buy new detergent and rewash Jane’s clothes.
I can’t believe I didn’t at least check with her when I bought different detergent.I feel like a clueless, incompetent husband, and I never want to be one of those.
