At least Snitch was gone. For a horrifying second, I thought it would be her taking the sheets.
“I don’t want her as my girl anymore. I don’t care that her uncle is dying. I don’t care if her whole family is dying. I can’t do this anymore. Why can’t we just pay for them to live somewhere else?”
“This is their home,” I said
. “It’s…his home. He’s been like a father to me.” I gripped her hands. “If it was just Sn—Story, I would do what you ask, believe me.”
It burned coming out, the idea of kicking her out onto the streets.
I knew it was better for everyone. Safer for Snitch, even, with my grandfather around. But I still couldn’t stomach the thought of never seeing her again.
“That old man is the only father I’ve ever known,” I continued. “I can’t abandon him when he only has a few weeks left to live. Story is his only real family.”
Her jaw clenched until the muscle popped.
If my wife had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have given a shit over my explanation. So what? Kick him out.
Instead she fell down, defeated.
“You know we can’t suppress everything. If you google her name, do you know what pops up now? Cinderella stories. She’s like a folk hero on the internet. Forums are dedicated to her. They call me the wicked wife. I’m the villain.”
Lottie stared abjectly at the floor.
“When I pictured my wedding night, there were sweet kisses, and tender passion. Instead I let my husband fuck someone else, and now the whole world knows how little he wants me.”
I got to my knees in front of her. “Let me make it up to you.”
“The longer she stays, the worse it will get. So I guess I’m praying for someone to die now. Is that who I am?” She looked up at me, eyes wet.
I thumbed the tear about to fall off her cheek.
“Every day for the rest of our life, I’ll prove to you that I’m a worthy husband.”
I won’t be my father.
I won’t abandon my wife.
I won’t put Snitch in danger.
I slid my thumb from Lottie’s cheek, into her curls, cupping her neck, forcing her to feel my earnestness in my grip. “I’ll give you a baby, I’ll give you a life, I’ll give you the world.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I can’t stop seeing you two together. It was one thing to imagine it.”
I gripped her tighter, pulling her closer. “You are my wife. My loyalty is to you.”
“I want to believe you. But you threw a punch for her on our wedding night, Grayson,” she whispered.
“Lottie, you were my first love. You will be my last love. I just need time. Can you give me that?”
Her eyes softened. “I guess.”
“We won’t be the couple of the century, Lottie. We’ll be the family of the century. This isn’t a nightmare. We’ll make it a dream. I promise.”
“I want to believe you…” she repeated on a whisper.
“So do. Let me make it up to you.” I tugged on her hand. “I’m serious when I say you’re my wife.”
“But you still love her. Will you ever stop?”