Page 72 of Retribution

I wave him out and Reed turns his gaze onto me, a wicked look in his eyes.

“So, we’re all alone now dimples.” He drones out, his voice thick with lust.

I giggle as he crushes me under his weight, all the anxiety from the signing, seeming to dry up.

Chapter 19

Reed

After signing the contract, I’ve felt a huge weight being lifted from my shoulders. The mornings seem easier to manage, the evenings feel a little less lonely. I think most of all, I’ve enjoyed feeling like a family again, like I’ve been given a second shot at this. At life.

Seeing Indie sleeping peacefully beside me, in the bed I once shared with Allie, feels like the exact juxtaposition that it is.

This bed used to be the epitome of too many arguments between us, like who was getting up first, who deserves it most, and which side belongs to whom. I caved eventually, retreating to the spare bedroom as I was so completely sick of it all. I don’t think I realized at that specific moment in time, that me giving up this bed, was actually me giving up on us. Our marriage.

It feels like from that point, we grew inexplicably different.

It’s like the bed was the final thing that kept us together, as mundane as it may be. The only time we resided together, was to sleep at night, in this bed.

People usually have a specific turning point in their marriage, a situation that they can look back on and notice that it was at that moment, that things changed.

There was no dramatic event, it happened gradually.

Sometimes, I wish there had been a moment like that. At least then, we would have been able to attempt to fix things, to even know what to fix. But, I’m as clueless as an outsider with no real indication of our problems, just that we didn’t want to be together anymore.

I sit with my back against the wooden headboard, my legs sprawled out in front of me and Indie curled up at my side. Her dark hair fans out beneath her as I peer down at her, appreciating the beauty of her being completely relaxed.

Reaching out my hand, I trace small circles on her shoulder. She doesn’t flinch.

Is it too early to admit that I’m falling for her?

Or, that I already have.

A slight snore breaks from her mouth and I struggle to mask my laugh as I find her even more adorable.

Willow is sleeping soundly in the room adjacent to us, she didn’t ask any questions when she came home to find Indie here. She was thrilled, to be honest.

I’m nervous to tell her that I’m marrying her ballet teacher, especially so soon after her mother’s death. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t pain me, to see her go through something this traumatic, so young.

I’m hoping that Indie can give her the hope that she has lost as I know how much she idolizes her.

There isn’t a doubt in my mind that during this contract, Indie is going to be the rock at the center of us all, keeping us all in balance.

As much as she is beautiful, she is incredibly smart and caring. She has so many attributes that complement her as a human, it’d be impossible to not fall in love with her.

Sliding my body further down the bed, I rest my head upon the same pillow as Indie. Her breaths are slow and calm as she sleeps in one of my t-shirts.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her into me. She is completely away with the fairies, she doesn’t even stir.

Smiling, I nestle into her, feeling a warmth spread around my body as I close my eyes.

***

“Daddy?” Willow says.

I blink my eyes open, focusing on her small body that’s still slightly blurry from my deep sleep.

“Lo?” I reply, stretching my arms wide and then rubbing my hands over my face to try and wake myself up more.

---