I turned and walked out of the room. His voice stopped me and I hoped he would ask me to stay and talk things out. “I need you tomorrow for the dinner. Those other bastards are bringing their girlfriends and I need you to show them up.”
A lone tear fell down my face. “I’m not your arm candy, Harris. Don’t treat me like it. I said I would go and I will, but you and I are going to need to have a serious talk afterward.”
Harris didn’t respond. Without looking back, I trudged down the hall to my office. The walls were different shades of warm-blue, which helped soothe me. As of late, I had been falling asleep more in my office than in our bedroom. There was a chest for my manuals and office supplies. Recently, I’d cleaned out a drawer to keep some of my pajamas in, too. I angrily snatched a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and hastily put them on. I was miserable in this relationship. I would get through tomorrow’s dinner, then Harris and I were going to put it all out on the table. After tomorrow, I assumed I’d be looking for a new place to live. If I needed to go to Amelia’s while they were aw
ay on their honeymoon, I knew I’d be able to. I sat on the couch and brought the afghan over me. Eventually, exhaustion took me.
My body jostled and I knew Harris was carrying me by the feel of his embrace. I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to fight again. He laid me down in our bed as I felt the soft mattress surround me.
“Ashlin, are you awake?”
I didn’t move and his thumb came up and caressed my cheek. “Ashlin, I do love you. I feel myself changing and I can’t stop it. I crave the power and I want more. But I want you, too. I can’t let you go and I won’t. I want it all. Don’t ask me to give up anything. I’m keeping you, Ashlin. I won’t let anyone else have you. This isn’t a battle you’re going to win. We were meant to be together.”
Harris gave me a kiss on the forehead as I kept my breathing even. I didn’t think he thought I was awake since he hardly ever let me see the tender side of him anymore. My heart raced when he pushed off the mattress. Next, I heard him leave the room.
When the door closed, the tears started free falling down my face. Somewhere beneath his new demeanor was the Harris I knew and had fallen in love with, but he was lost. I wasn’t sure if the old Harris could be saved, or that he wanted to even be found. Change was a scary thing and I knew I was on the brink of being forced to make a decision for my own sanity.