“Uh, no thank you. I think I’ll wait for my husband. He should be here any minute.”
“Okay. I’ll check on you again soon.” He walks away as I let out a frustrated breath and scroll through social media while waiting for Hayes to show up.
Twenty minutes later, Hayes walks through the door, unbuttoning his coat as he strides toward our table. And even though I’m beyond irritated with him right now, the sight of him in a suit, looking powerful and in charge, still has me wanting him desperately.
“Waverly, I’m so sorry I’m late,” he says as soon as he arrives next to my seat, leaning down to kiss me chastely.
“You didn’t even reply to my texts and let me know you were on your way.”
“I know. I got stuck in a meeting. There was a crisis overseas and one of the stocks we have multiple shares in tanked, so people were freaking out. And then when I got in the car, I went to text you, but then my dad called me and I never hit send to let you know I was on my way. I’m sorry.”
“I’ve been here for almost an hour,” I reply, letting my annoyance be known even though I can tell he’s stressed out.
“I said I’m sorry,” he spits back, and then my pulse starts to pound even harder.
“Let’s just order, okay? I’m starving.”
“Sure.” The clench in his jaw tells me he’s irritated too, but I’m so hungry right now that I know trying to talk while hangry is not going to end well.
As we both peruse the menu, the waiter comes over, and Hayes orders a glass of whiskey, so I order another glass of wine. Once we make our food choice, we put in our order, and then Hayes reaches for my hand.
“Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I just…” I start, but then the sound of Hayes’s phone vibrating in his pocket breaks our conversation. “Do you need to get that?”
He winces but hits ignore. “No, it’s okay. You were saying,” he starts, but then his phone buzzes once more.
“Just answer it.” I grit my teeth as he sighs and then moves to stand.
“I’ll be right back.” With a kiss on my forehead, he answers the call and walks out the door to the back balcony of the restaurant, leaving me all alone once again.
Twenty minutes later, our food arrives and I dig in, but still don’t see my husband, the man who wanted this time with me but has obviously made his choice about what is important this evening. It’s one night, just a few hours—surely, he could have called this person back later or tomorrow.
Having tolerated enough and with anger boiling inside of me, I drain the rest of my wine and leave, knowing Hayes will take the hint once he returns and finds me gone. And since I drove myself here, I don’t need him for a ride home.
When I get inside, I rush upstairs to my room and slam the door shut before breaking down into tears. I sink down on the edge of my bed, letting all the emotions I’m feeling out. Maybe my mother was right—maybe I’m just the consolation prize because it seems that Hayes has made his choice, made his priorities perfectly clear.
The sound of the garage door opening alerts me to Hayes’s arrival. He must have seen me gone just shortly after I left to be home already. I hear his feet on the stairs and then the sound of my door opening just moments later.
“What the fuck, Waverly?”
“What?” I snap back, sitting up higher on my bed now while wiping under my eyes.
“You just left?”
“I was done eating. And since I basically had dinner by myself, I was ready to leave.”
“I came back in and you were gone.”
“Yes, I was. Why do you care all of a sudden?” I stand and then stare him down. “You might as well have just canceled, Hayes, because that was not the date you promised me.”
“I had to take that call, Waverly. It’s my job. You wouldn’t understand since you’re not working right now and have all the time in the world. Sometimes things just can’t wait!”
And that comment has my blood boiling and reeling back slightly. “Oh, so since I’m currently unemployed I can’t understand the pressure you’re under?”
“Exactly,” he says, and then his eyes widen when he realizes his mistake. “Fuck, I didn’t mean it like that …”
“No, I think that’s exactly what you meant. I can’t possibly understand what you’re going through.”
“Well, you don’t,” he spits back. “But …”
“Because you won’t tell me! You won’t let me in! You won’t communicate with me!” My voice booms against the walls of my room.
“I can’t let my father down, Waverly. I can’t fail. This is what I wanted and nothing else matters right now!”
And there it is, the confirmation of where his priorities are and probably always will be. “Good to know,” I seethe as a few more tears slip free.
He moves toward me, remorse written all over his face. But I hold up my hand to stop him.
“Waverly …”
“You need to get out of my room, please,” I grind out against sadness and anger in my throat.
“Can we please just talk about this?”
“I think you’ve said everything you needed to say, Hayes. I—I need some space from you right now.” I need to break down without you watching me crumble and shatter because you just broke my heart.
“What?” he asks, pained and panicked. “Look, I’m sorry …”
“No. I’m getting tired of hearing that from you. I get that you have a lot on your plate right now, so perhaps you need one thing less, and that’s us.”
As the shock registers on his face, it’s quickly replaced by anger before Hayes spins on his feet, walks out of my room, and slams the door behind him.
Chapter 18
Waverly
I held out hope. I wanted to believe
