Page 97 of Strictly Business
“Hey!” Taylor interjected, but Hannah ignored her.
“…but, you hate it here.”
“I don’t hate it.”
“Michaela,” Hannah quirked a brow. “Be serious.”
“I don’t hate it,” I said simply. “Do I enjoy being away from my family? No, but you’re brother and I are trying to make it work, and right now, that means me being here with all of you.”
Hannah scoffed, “Is that what he said?”
When I shrugged, Taylor whispered, “He’s such an asshole.”
“Look y’all, sometimes making it work means having to make sacrifices. I know that, I was prepared when—”
“Weren’t you dating someone else, though?”
“I—” How do they know about that? “Yes, but it ended right before David and I got back together. And with everything falling into place like that, it felt like the universe was giving us the chance to fix this.” My thumbnail ran across a blemish on the handle of the coffee mug, and soon it became the only thing I could focus on. “So, that’s what we’re gonna do.”
“Who are you trying to convince?” Hannah said taking a sip of her cider.
“Hannah,” Taylor warned.
“I’m just curious,” Hannah smirked. “Has our dear brother told you what he’s been up to in Washington?”
“What do you mean? Barnes always keeps him busy with—”
“Oh God, he hasn’t told her,” Hannah said to Taylor who sighed. Between the two of them, Taylor was the less confrontational one. She liked to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. While she may have been a part of this conversation, it was Hannah’s idea. Taylor only wanted to feel included, but she knew better than to let anything spoken in this room leave it.
“Would someone tell me what is going on?” I begged.
“David is running for Congress.”
The bathroom door glides open, bringing me back from the memory. I keep my eyes closed hoping he gets the hint. Just a few more minutes of alone time is all I want — alone time is a rare occurrence with the Reed family, and I take advantage of the little bit I get. “I had Tay make a plate for you, figured I should bring it to you since it’s obvious you’re not going to be rejoining us tonight.”
“Sorry,” I sigh. “I had a headache; the bath seems to be helping.” I sink a little lower into the warm water thankful for the bubbles lingering. Part of me feels the need to cover up in front of him, even though he’s seen every part of me, touched every inch of my skin. Knows every intimate detail of my being… It feels wrong.
“Look,” David sets the plate on the sink and sits on the edge of the tub. “I’m sorry I had to work, but Barnes is counting on me—”
“He always is.”
“Michaela—”
“I know, I know.” I sit up a little taller and notice his eyes waver between the tops of my breasts that come into view over the bubbles and the floor. “I’m sorry. It’s this headache, it’s making me grumpy.”
“You should eat something. It’ll help,” he says as standing from the tub. David keeps his back to me as he walks toward the door, pausing before stepping out. He adds over his shoulder, “We’re all trying to make this work, Michaela. You need to do the same.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
MICHAELA
THE WOMAN IN THE mirror shrugs her shoulders and straightens her back. Her long blonde hair has been straightened and pulled into a high bun with delicate tendrils that frame her face. A soft, neutral makeup look paired with red-colored lips. Both professionally done by the hair and makeup team her husband hired to get her ready for his former boss’s annual Christmas party. Even her dress and shoes have been picked out for her — a long-sleeved crew-neck emerald dress paired with gold heels. She should be grateful, and she was to a certain extent because it meant she didn’t have to worry about disappointing him, but she felt like a stranger in her own skin.
I feel like a stranger in my skin.
A hand gently grazes my hips when David appears behind me in the mirror. He smiles and kisses my temple. “See, this one is perfect,” he says looking down the length of the mirror. The dress he had picked out arrived this morning on the arm of the hair stylist while we were, calmly, discussing how I should act at the party tonight. On the plane ride from Montana last night, I suggested running to CityCenter and finding something to wear since I didn’t pack anything, but he informed me that wouldn’t be necessary — his team had already done it. His team. That was something I still couldn’t get used to. “Remember what we talked about,” he says meeting my eyes in the reflection.
“Proud and supportive wife.”