mind. Unhappy?
Bored? Cheating? Oh God, anything but that. She knew Bill’s impending
divorce was taking its toll at work. Not to mention that she’d worried about
their relationship more with news of each splitting couple rolling in. It had
reached practically epidemic proportions.
Eric stared at his hand as it traced the contours of her
leg.
Just tell me. Please.
He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “I know
you’ve been unhappy the past few months. I saw it. And it bothered me. But I
didn’t do anything about it. And I’m really sorry.”
Is that the confession? That didn’t sound too bad. Is
that all? “It’s not your fault. I was just stressed from the move. It’s not
easy being the low-key mom in this neighborhood.”
“I know. I guess I thought since we were still in the same
town it wouldn’t matter but I know you lost some friends. And that sucks.”
She nodded, not sure she could continue speaking without
worry seeping into her voice. What isn’t he saying yet?
Eric traced small circles on the bottom of her foot but as
good as it felt it didn’t distract her. He took another breath. “When you
started taking your mysterious classes I was glad. I figured anything to get
you out of the house was a good thing. And right away you seemed happier.”
Where is he headed with this? Her heart hammered. “I
was happier. But I was never unhappy with you. I need you to know that.”
Eric let out a sigh then picked up her hand and placed a
kiss on it. “I was never unhappy with you either. Not for a second. But when
you wouldn’t tell me what the classes were I got…worried.”
Worried? “About what?”
His gaze shifted down, away from hers. “I thought maybe
‘class’ was more like you finding someone who paid more attention to you than I
was.” His eyes met hers, dark and tinged with fear. “I thought you might have
been having an affair.”
Stunned, Jessica stared back at him then laughter tumbled
out of her. She knew she shouldn’t be laughing. Not at all. The expression on
Eric’s face told her that. He was clearly baffled by her reaction. “I’m sorry.”
She tried to speak but more giggles bubbled out of her.
“I don’t… Why are you laughing?”
Jessica wiped at her eyes, forcing herself to take a breath.
“I’m just so relieved.” She scooted across the couch and put her arms around
Eric’s neck, running her hand back and forth against the back of his head.
“Relieved?” He studied her face, clearly not understanding.
“I wasn’t cheating on you, Eric. I’d never cheat on you. If
I was that unhappy I would have told you. I love you too much and respect you
too much to ever hurt you like that.”
Eric visibly relaxed. His shoulders unclenched, his hand,
which he’d been holding dead still, began stroking her leg again. “I feel the
same way. I’d never do that to you either.”
“I guess it’s my turn to confess now.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I was worried about the same thing. All those late nights
at the office. Being too tired to do anything but eat dinner and go to bed. I
couldn’t help but think—”
“Never.” He tipped her chin up until she met his eyes again.
Staring straight at her he said it again. “Never. I promise, Jess. I love you.”
“I love you too. More than ever.” Before the last word left
her lips his mouth was on hers. Hot. Wet. Of all the times they’d kissed today
this was the most passionate. The most intimate. She could feel his sincerity
in every stroke of his tongue. He loves me. We’re going to be okay.
“Promise me something.” His fingers worked through her hair,
strong and soothing against her scalp.
“Anything.”
“That brings a lot of requests to mind, but for now I just
want one thing. Seriously.”
“Okay.” She nodded.
“If you ever feel stressed or unhappy again, promise you’ll
tell me. Or ask me for help. I’m not a mind reader. It’s not that I don’t want
to help out, but you
Bored? Cheating? Oh God, anything but that. She knew Bill’s impending
divorce was taking its toll at work. Not to mention that she’d worried about
their relationship more with news of each splitting couple rolling in. It had
reached practically epidemic proportions.
Eric stared at his hand as it traced the contours of her
leg.
Just tell me. Please.
He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “I know
you’ve been unhappy the past few months. I saw it. And it bothered me. But I
didn’t do anything about it. And I’m really sorry.”
Is that the confession? That didn’t sound too bad. Is
that all? “It’s not your fault. I was just stressed from the move. It’s not
easy being the low-key mom in this neighborhood.”
“I know. I guess I thought since we were still in the same
town it wouldn’t matter but I know you lost some friends. And that sucks.”
She nodded, not sure she could continue speaking without
worry seeping into her voice. What isn’t he saying yet?
Eric traced small circles on the bottom of her foot but as
good as it felt it didn’t distract her. He took another breath. “When you
started taking your mysterious classes I was glad. I figured anything to get
you out of the house was a good thing. And right away you seemed happier.”
Where is he headed with this? Her heart hammered. “I
was happier. But I was never unhappy with you. I need you to know that.”
Eric let out a sigh then picked up her hand and placed a
kiss on it. “I was never unhappy with you either. Not for a second. But when
you wouldn’t tell me what the classes were I got…worried.”
Worried? “About what?”
His gaze shifted down, away from hers. “I thought maybe
‘class’ was more like you finding someone who paid more attention to you than I
was.” His eyes met hers, dark and tinged with fear. “I thought you might have
been having an affair.”
Stunned, Jessica stared back at him then laughter tumbled
out of her. She knew she shouldn’t be laughing. Not at all. The expression on
Eric’s face told her that. He was clearly baffled by her reaction. “I’m sorry.”
She tried to speak but more giggles bubbled out of her.
“I don’t… Why are you laughing?”
Jessica wiped at her eyes, forcing herself to take a breath.
“I’m just so relieved.” She scooted across the couch and put her arms around
Eric’s neck, running her hand back and forth against the back of his head.
“Relieved?” He studied her face, clearly not understanding.
“I wasn’t cheating on you, Eric. I’d never cheat on you. If
I was that unhappy I would have told you. I love you too much and respect you
too much to ever hurt you like that.”
Eric visibly relaxed. His shoulders unclenched, his hand,
which he’d been holding dead still, began stroking her leg again. “I feel the
same way. I’d never do that to you either.”
“I guess it’s my turn to confess now.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I was worried about the same thing. All those late nights
at the office. Being too tired to do anything but eat dinner and go to bed. I
couldn’t help but think—”
“Never.” He tipped her chin up until she met his eyes again.
Staring straight at her he said it again. “Never. I promise, Jess. I love you.”
“I love you too. More than ever.” Before the last word left
her lips his mouth was on hers. Hot. Wet. Of all the times they’d kissed today
this was the most passionate. The most intimate. She could feel his sincerity
in every stroke of his tongue. He loves me. We’re going to be okay.
“Promise me something.” His fingers worked through her hair,
strong and soothing against her scalp.
“Anything.”
“That brings a lot of requests to mind, but for now I just
want one thing. Seriously.”
“Okay.” She nodded.
“If you ever feel stressed or unhappy again, promise you’ll
tell me. Or ask me for help. I’m not a mind reader. It’s not that I don’t want
to help out, but you
Similar Books
