“Hayes isn’t Dad. And neither is Wes.”
“Not now, but just give it time. Soon you’ll understand why I’m not really around. It’s easier this way, easier than trying to fight for his attention because believe me, Waverly, that gets old after a while.” She tips back the rest of the liquid in her champagne flute and then places the empty glass on the table. “Nice to see you, dear.” I watch her stop by the guest book, sign her name, and then disappear as quickly as she arrived, leaving a trail of self-doubt in my mind.
With my heart thumping wildly, I attempt to refill my glass before taking my seat again, smiling outwardly as I watch Shayla celebrate her impending nuptials—but inside, I’m cringing, hoping that now that Hayes got what he wanted—the job our marriage was designed to help him earn—that he won’t suddenly turn on me and leave me a shattered mess when I realize that I’m only second choice, and always will be.
When I get home that afternoon, I find Hayes in the swimming pool, gliding through the crystal blue water as he does lap after lap. He’s home earlier than he has been in weeks, a pleasant surprise that has me anxious, and yet thrilled.
Even though I should alert him to my presence, part of me is just enjoying watching him—the smooth lines of his muscles cutting through the water, the moisture glistening on his skin as the sun beats down on him, his wet hair that I love to run my hands through and miss pulling on when his head is between my legs. It’s been days since we’ve had sex, and the last time we did, I was the one that initiated it.
“Hey,” I greet him as soon as his head pops up, and he rests his arms on the edge of the pool, straining to catch his breath.
“Hey, babe. How was Shayla’s shower?” He throws his head back, shaking the excess water from the dark strands before running his hand through it to smooth it back.
“It was beautiful. She got a lot of really slutty lingerie.”
He smiles. “Oh yeah? Lucky Wes.”
“Please don’t remind me that my brother will see all of those outfits. It was hard enough to push that thought out of my mind as she opened them.”
A small chuckle leaves his lips. “True. Say, wanna join me in here?”
My heart leaps at the idea that he’s actually eager to spend time with me, and I don’t feel like I’m fighting for his attention right now. “Really?”
“Yes. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Hayes. Let me go get my suit on,” I say, turning around to head into the house as he calls out to me.
“No need for clothes, Wave. Get your naked ass in here.” With his signature smirk on his lips, he reaches under the water, only to pull his swim trunks out from under the surface as he tosses them on the sidewalk surrounding the pool.
With a gleam of mischief in his eyes, I study him as I walk back to the pool and strip my dress and heels off while his gaze tracks my movements. And once I lower myself into the heated water, Hayes has his hands on me and his lips on mine.
“I need you, baby,” he whispers against my lips as his hand trails down my stomach and his fingers stroke through my folds.
“I need you too, Hayes. I feel like we’re strangers right now, barely crossing paths at night.”
“I know, and I’m so fucking sorry. I’m trying to manage everything and I feel like I’m letting you down.” He leans back and stares intently into my eyes.
“I know you’re under a lot of pressure, but I need you too.”
Leaning his forehead on mine, he lets out a shaky breath. “These past two weeks have been insane, but I want to make it up to you. Tuesday should be an easier day since I only have three meetings. How about I make us dinner reservations? We can go somewhere romantic, enjoy some wine, and then I’ll take you home and fuck you the way you like.”
His promise has my body trembling, especially as he pushes two fingers inside of me while holding me against him.
“That sounds perfect. I love you and just want some time with you.”
“I know. So I’ll make it. I love you too, Waverly… so fucking much,” he declares before smashing his lips to mine and showing me with his body how much he needs me, and the fact that it makes me feel more at ease helps calm the worry in my mind that my mother drew up earlier.
* * *
Glancing at my phone for the twentieth time since I sat down at our table, I try to shove down the irritation running through me when I see that Hayes is thirty minutes late for our dinner reservation, the dinner reservation that was his idea.
He said he would be here. He promised he wouldn’t let me down this morning as he kissed me goodbye while I still laid in bed. I spent the morning volunteering at the shelter, getting ready for the annual spaghetti dinner tomorrow and finalizing details for the opening of Midnight Cowboy this weekend. Then I took my time this afternoon getting ready, eager to look beautiful for my husband so that when he saw me, I knew I’d have his attention for the night.
Well, I’m already one glass of wine in and still alone, drawing attention to myself as people continue to stare at the woman who looks like she’s been stood up. And I guess technically I have, especially because I’ve sent three text messages to Hayes in the last thirty minutes and have yet to receive a reply.
“Miss, would you like another glass of wine?” The waiter comes by and questions me while
