Page 45 of Rough and Rugged

“Well, they can’t be right about everything. You canactlike an idiot sometimes, no question, but that doesn’t mean you are one. Like the time you and Cade decided to race climbing that tree and both of you fell.”

It hadn’t been funny at the time – and had resulted in a sprained ankle for Caleb and a broken arm for Cade – but it was just one of so many memories of them now.

“Yeah, that was pretty damn dumb.” Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, his expression relaxing a little. “Anyway, forget what I said. You don’t need me acting like I have a say in what you do.”

“I always value your opinion, you know that.” When there was no response from Caleb, I went on. “Although, when you asked me what I was working on I was actually talking about the idea I had for selling prints of the wolves on the sanctuary’s website.”

Now Caleb’s cheeks flushed a little pink, seemingly a little embarrassed at the conclusion he’d jumped to. He backed up to lean against the kitchen counter, set down some clothes he was holding, and folded his massive arms across his chest again.

“It’s a good one. Your photography is amazing. We’d sell out in no time.”

“The wolves are just so beautiful,” I demurred, a little self-conscious about the compliment, as always. “I barely have to do anything.”

And Caleb was frowning at me again.

“Don’t downplay your talent like that, Gem. What you do is special, and it takes a lot of hard work.”

How different Caleb was than Stefan. I rarely thought of Stefan these days, but it was hard not to compare Caleb’s unwavering support of my photography to Stefan’s impatient dismissal of it. If I wasn’t already very well aware of the favor Stefan had done me by dumping me, that alone would make it obvious.

“I love it, like you do the sanctuary. So, should we do it?”

Caleb’s expression didn’t lighten as I expected.

“I don’t see how we can. There already aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.”

Knowing I was going to get pushback, I tried anyway.

“Let me help with it. I can get everything set up on the website, the orders can come directly to me, and I can print and ship them.”

The thunderclouds gathered on Caleb’s face as I talked.

“You have your business to run. You don’t need to be wasting your time on this.”

I tried to hold onto my temper. I really did. He was just sofrustrating.

“Aren’t you the same man who just said you don’t have a say in what I do?”

“Dammit, Gem…”

Why was he allowed to help me, but I wasn’t allowed to help him?

Hurt and anger mixed with exasperation, and I interrupted him, asking him the blunt question I’d promised myself I never would.

“Why are we still married, Caleb? I’m twenty-five; I have my inheritance. Why haven’t we gotten a divorce?”

Chapter Seven

Caleb

Ifelttheblooddrain from my face as Gemma’s questions hit me like a punch to the gut.

I’d known it would happen someday. She’d want to be free of me, to move on with her life. I just hadn’t thought it would happen this soon.

I watched Gemma’s cheeks pale along with mine as her eyes filled with regret.

“Caleb,” she whispered, but I couldn’t stay quiet. I couldn’t stand it.

“Is that what you want, Gem? A divorce?”

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