Her Reluctant Wife: A Lesbian Age Gap Romance

someone can fix it up and someone who can’t afford one can

have it after.”

Leaving felt worse and worse. What Coralyn had done felt

worse and worse. The sadness creeping up her throat burned

like razorblades. “If you’re sure.” She should refuse. Get out.

Send Giana some cryptic text about changing her mind. She

should ask for an annulment. She shouldn’t go back.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Giana

was struggling. There was pain in her eyes. Her features were

twisted, like she was remembering something, but the foggy

expression told Coralyn that she didn’t. She knew she hated

hospitals. She was offering to come with her anyway.

Coralyn didn’t want to feel the surge of gratitude swelling in

her chest. “No. My dad was adamant that he didn’t want

anyone to see him like this. Especially if you don’t remember

him from before, I don’t want you to remember him like this. I

have photos. Videos. We can watch them later.” Lies. So many

more lies.

Giana passed over the lunch bag and Coralyn took the mug.

“Okay. Drive safe and take care. I know you’re upset. That can

be distracting.” The metal was warm to her cool hands. She

was wearing Giana’s clothes, accepting her kindness. It was

hard to hate this version. To hold anything against her. Very

hard. “Do you need anything else? I’ll open a joint account for

us. You’ll have access to whatever you need. Where do you

work? You can stop that now. I’ll help you find something.

Come work for me. With me. We can sell the house if you

don’t like it. I assume you’re going to move in. I can hire

movers to get your things.” She stopped, breathing in hard

because she was out of breath, and understanding cut through