Page 10 of Vintage

My shoulders tensed, seeing him flash that charming smile, while she blinked at him with those seductive eyes.

I knew my husband was an extrovert, always thriving in the limelight, basking in the attention of others. His smiles were a dime a dozen, and he had this knack for charming everyone around him, a trait I had to keep in check.

But watching him interact with her—the girl who had haunted our marriage for the past year—felt like a knife twisting in my gut.

I had never seen him so at ease with anyone else, and while I could accept it not being me, I couldn't accept her. Not now.

"That’s what I’ve been ranting about like a broken record for a month. You refused to meet the girl your husband is involved with, so I thought I’d show you... This isn’t normal, Amery. Rowan, the people’s charmer, still never hesitated to dismiss a girl who wasn’t you," he spat behind me, his voice laced with fury.

I was processing it all, but my ability to react was frozen, my veins turned to ice as I watched the scene unfold.

Darius was right. This isn’t normal.

Ro might have been the ultimate people pleaser, but flirting? Not in his playbook. He never made a move on any girl, never reached out to a woman unless it was strictly work-related or some obligatory social interaction.

I couldn't believe it. He didn’t even bother to chat up Lily from the flower shop, despite everyone drooling over her beauty, or the sweet old lady at the bakery who sent me pecan pies just because she felt like it. This was not the Ro I knew.

“Drinks are ready, so hurry up!” Darius yelled, and the girls flocked over while Ro plopped down next to me. His hand landed on my thigh like it belonged there, but I swatted it away, disgusted by the mere contact.

Nausea twisted in my gut, and a headache throbbed from my eyes to my brain.

“Give me something strong,” I demanded.

Darius raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ro for approval, and that was it. My fury erupted, skin crawling with rage.

“Why are you looking at him? I asked for a drink, Darius! Am I a child needing permission? I’ll pay, just give me the damn drink!” My voice dripped with venom, even I was taken aback.

I hated how childish I sounded.

Alcohol and I? We didn’t mix well. Two beers were my max, and four shots of tequila? That was pushing it. I wasn’t the type to splurge on booze unless it was a special occasion or a friendly get-together.

I craved something to anchor me, and alcohol felt like the only lifeline within reach.

"Coming right up," Darius declared, and my gaze drifted to Ro, who was watching me with an unreadable expression.

His face was a blank canvas when he slipped his hand back on my thigh, squeezing it, but my heart felt like a stone.

"Um... I hope we didn't interrupt you guys," Willow murmured, her voice a sweet melody. What was she, some siren?

She had the kind of allure that could turn a straight girl’s head. Forget the spaghetti joke; if she was the one serving the sauce, I might just drown in it. And here I was, someone who thought she had her sexuality all figured out.

"No, you didn’t, Willow. We were just having a little... discussion..." Whoa! When did Ro start playing the diplomat?

In the past, if we had a spat and someone dared to intervene, Ro would unleash his fury, snapping at anyone who dared to meddle. He despised it when outsiders intruded on our private moments.

He once said,"The world fades to silence when you speak, Mrs. Rowan. Your voice is the only one I want to hear."

That line always made me smile, and then we’d tumble into each other like bees to blossoms.

That was the magic of our marriage; no matter what chaos surrounded us, it was always just the two of us. Our parents would occasionally nudge us about kids, insisting that family was the glue that held a marriage together, but we were content with our rhythm, moving at our own pace.

To every suggestion they made, Ro would simply reply,"Imagining a child who looks like Amery is a delightful thought, but whether we have one or not, our love remains unchanged. We are secure in our marriage, and our love is the only reason we need to build a life together."

Every time he said that, my heart swelled with pride.

His presence had always been my anchor, a quiet assurance that life held no demands beyond him. He was my everything, my solace. But now, as I watch him stare at Willow, entranced as if she were a siren from a forgotten dream, doubt creeps in. Was I ever truly enough for him? And if I was, do I still hold that place in his heart?

I swallowed the burning drink Darius handed me, my eyes fixed on Ro, who was lost in conversation with Willow. I sat to Ro's left, while Willow occupied his right, with Natalie nestled beside her.

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