I'd locked myself in the guest room after Emma and I had taken our pictures together. Aspen had gone home, but not before reminding me how badly this plan was likely to backfire. And, of course, he'd been right. I'd hoped so badly sending that message to Nick would awaken something in him. And it had, I guess. Relief though, not jealousy like I'd wanted.
Hands shaking, I set the phone down on the bedside table, then collapsed onto the bed. I needed to get myself under control. Reading the message from Nick over and over again was just going to make me angrier and angrier.
How could he be such an insensitive asshole? I was his wife, for crying out loud. Even if he didn't love me the way I loved him, how could he be so calm and indifferent about everything? I'd basically told him I was going out to get laid tonight, and he'd just shrugged it off! Jesus Christ, what kind of husband did something like that?
We most definitely didn't have that kind of relationship. No way would I ever be comfortable sharing Nick with anyone. He was my husband, damn it, and I wasn't about to let some other woman have her way with him. But apparently he didn't have the same feelings for me. He was fine with me going out to the bar, finding some stranger, and letting him fuck my brains out all night. How could he be so callous?
I laid in the bed, staring up at the ceiling, emotions whirling around inside me. One moment I'd be angry with Nick, the next I'd be on the verge of tears over our marriage falling apart. Then, I'd go back to wanting to go out and make Nick jealous, to show him I wasn't some weak-willed woman he could upset that easily.
Maybe I was that kind of woman though. It'd only taken a couple words from him to send me into this spiral. I doubted any amount of staring at the ceiling and thinking would help either. No. I needed to go talk to Nick, needed to see him face to face. If he wanted a divorce, then fine. But he was damn sure going to say it to my face, not over a text message.
When I stomped downstairs, Emma was waiting for me. She had her arms crossed in front of her chest, her eyes narrowed. Standing right in the middle of the hallway, there was no way for me to get passed her. "What happened?" she asked. Whether from my expression or from the way I'd come downstairs, Emma knew something bad had happened.
I handed her the phone silently, letting her see for herself what the bastard had done. I couldn't even stand saying the words out loud.
Emma's face softened when she met my gaze again. Then, she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms tight around me. The anger inside me faded as I hugged my best friend back. At least I wasn't alone in all of this. No matter how much of an asshole my husband was, at least I had Emma for a best friend, a woman who would always be there for me. Someone who wouldn't leave me at the drop of a hat.
"Oh, honey," she said, her voice soft. "I'm so sorry. I'd thought Nick was better than that. I really thought he loved you."
"Yeah, so did I." I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice, no matter how hard I tried. But at least I managed not to yell and scream like I so badly wanted to. But I wasn't sure where Holly was, and I didn't want to drag the girl into it anymore than I already had. No matter what he'd done to me, Nick was still her uncle, and I would not poison her relationship with him.
"Come on. There's still some food left from dinner. I'll heat it up, then we can go upstairs and watch a movie together. I'm sure Holly wouldn't say no to another late night watching cheesy romance flicks." Emma grinned at me, and I so nearly let her pull me toward the kitchen.
As we entered, I heard the doorbell ring.
My heart skipped a beat. “W-who is that?” I stammered.
“Let me get it,” Emma said, rushing off.
Emotions swirled within me as I followed.
“Nick?” she gasped as she opened the door.
I gasped to. I wasn’t expecting him. I thought it was over.
“How can I help you?” As Emma asked, Nick pushed past her.
“I need to speak with my wife,” he said, voice commanding. Then, he saw me, his dark eyes possessing me. My poor little heart, which had already been working overtime, pounded so hard I was having trouble staying on my feet.
I’d never seen Nick before like this.
He was so primal and raw. His muscles strained in his shirt as he strode toward me, taking me in his arms and pulling me close against his rock-hard body.
God, I really did go weak in the knees then. My legs turned to jelly, but he gathered me in his arms, holding me like a princess.
“Emma, my wife and I are going to the guest house. We’re not to be disturbed. She and I need to talk.” He didn’t wait for an answer. He was already stepping out into the night, ready to talk.
“Good luck Mr. and Mrs. Frost!” Emma called after us, smiling.
I was gonna need all the luck I could get. This wasn’t a Nick I was used to, and I wasn’t sure I could handle him.
12
Nick
I set her down on the bed. She looked so adorable, fidgeting and not meeting my gaze. I was eager to claim even more of her innocence, but
