Page 86 of The Betrayal
And I nod, because he is right. But he wasn’t the only one who overstepped the mark. We both crossed that line.
“And please, can I sort a date out for you to meet Amora soon, you really would like her. I promise.”
“Can I think about it?”
I just felt so overwhelmed by everything over the last couple of hours that I just needed to have a few hours to let everything settle down.
“Sure,” and I can hear the pain in his voice, but he brushes it off like he always does.
“Thanks dad, I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you, Sunshine.”
He wraps his arms around me again and gives me one last cuddle before he turns and walks away.
I watch him drive into the distance and I rub the ache out of my chest that has presented itself and set up camp.
Closing the door, my back presses against the cool door and I have no idea why, but I crumble into a pool of tears.
The day has flown, and I am now on a countdown to Keaton walking through the door. It has just turned five. I don’t want to be his keeper and I definitely do not want to be the kind of woman that cooks his dinner and has it ready for him and waiting every day, but I also would like to do something as a thank you for him sending my dad around. He didn’t have to do that and I know it must have been awful for him as my dad would have been furious with it all and the fact that my dad punched Keaton because of what we had done… I owed him it all.
Once my dad had left, I got myself showered and changed into weather appropriate clothes and walked towards the small store on the corner of Hamilton Heights to grab stuff for dinner and a bottle of red. I got carded, I mean, of course I did.
Walking out onto the sidewalk, the city air was cold and had a nip to it now the evening was drawing in. Walking a little quicker to keep warm, I could see the light on outside Keaton’s and I can’t wait for him to be home. Letting myself in, I kick my boots off and place the grocery bag on the side table and hang my coat up. Closing the door of the cupboard, I walk down the hallway and into the warm kitchen. Turning the stove on, I fill the saucepan with water and bring it to the boil then add the spaghetti. Heating a pan, I throw in the onions, carrots and garlic before tossing in the mince, cooking it until its browned and then adding the meat sauce. I’m not going to lie, it smells divine.
I hear the front door go and I give myself the once over in the reflection of the glass and I am glad that I decided to put on an apron with nothing underneath. Once we’re finished with dinner I am going to show him how thankful I am to him.
“Baby?” he calls out, his deep voice floating down the long hallway to the back of the house where I am waiting for him.
The table is set, his wine is poured, and dinner is ready to be dished up.
He walks down towards me and clings onto takeout.
“Wanted to surprise you with dinner,” he smirks when he looks at the candlelit room and drops the takeout bag on the countertop. “But this looks a lot more appealing,” he wraps his arm around the back of me and his brows lift when he realizes that I am completely bare underneath.
“I wanted to surprise you with a homecooked dinner,” I trace my finger over his shoulder and run them along the stubble down his jaw line. He winces. Redness blemishes across his cheek and jaw.
“Well, you definitely surprised me,” he smirks, his arms locking round my body as he pulls me close, his lips hovering over mine.
“How pissed would you be if I said let’s skip dinner?” his lips brush against mine and my whole body reacts.
“Pissed…” I smirk, locking my hands round his neck.
“Fine, let’s eat, then I want the whole evening with you.”
“Deal,” I wink before he gives me one last kiss then lets me go and I instantly miss him.
Hate that.
I plate up and he is sitting at the table, his hungry eyes pinned to me the whole time and I feel my skin flame under his heated gaze.
“Stop staring.”
“Can’t help it, my wife is just too hot,” and my cheeks pinch crimson. Facing him, my brown hair sits in loose waves just past my shoulders and I saunter my way over to where he is sitting, placing his food down in front of him.
“This looks delicious.”
And I am sure he is just being kind.