Page 77 of No Saint

“Amelia,” she softens on a whisper, “What happened to you?”

“It’s nothing,” I tell her, eyes bouncing to the mere curtain that separates me from Gabriel. I didn’t believe he would just barge in, he had these gentlemanly tendencies that I didn’t hate but I wouldn’t put it passed him if he thought I was in trouble.

“It doesn’t look like nothing, Amelia. It looks like someone hurt you.”

“Just drop it, Sierra.”

“He doesn’t know, does he?”

I sigh but then shake my head, “I don’t want him to.”

“But–”

“No, please,” I beg, “Just please don’t say anything.”

Her eyes soften as she takes me in once more. In the short hour or so I’d been here, I’d immediately liked Sierra, with her quick wit and fearless attitude, she had an easy relationship with Gabriel that I feel would have made me jealous if it wasn’t for her character. I had no right, of course, but it didn’t, not with her.

She was the type I’d have been friends with before, one I might have trusted.

“Okay,” she agrees with a sympathetic smile.

“I’m coming in!” Gabriel growls.

Sierra immediately jumps into action, yanking the curtain across almost violently, “She doesn’t want you to see her.”

“She’s my wife!” Gabriel growls fiercely.

“Well maybe she wants it to be a surprise!”

Silence follows. With everything happening between us right now I wasn’t sure he would believe it.

“Don’t lie to me, Sierra.”

“Gabriel, give the girl space!” She snaps, “You can’t fucking blame her for wanting it!”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s fine, Gabriel.”

“Amelia!?” He calls.

“Gabriel, she’s telling the truth, I’m fine.”

I hear his sigh and then the stomps of his footsteps.

“You have to speak with him,” Sierra says softly.

I shake my head, “We may be married but we are not a couple, Sierra. We never will be.”

Gabriel hands me the bags from the boutique, the dresses I had purchased and then the lingerie and hesitates.

“Everything okay?”

“Join me for dinner?”

“I always do.”

He looks down before looking back up, “I mean really join me, Amelia.”

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