Page 2 of Redemption

She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "But you expect me to sit here and wait on you while you go through whatever this is by yourself, refusing to let me help you? Is that it?"

"You're not wrong, and I'm trying to work through it." I motion for her to step back and get out of the SUV. Standing closer to her than I have in months. My body takes notice, and it's everything I can do not to grab her around the waist and hug her hard.

"Does that mean you're seeing the counselor the department asked you to see?"

"Yes." I answer slowly. "It does."

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing thoughtfully. "I'm glad. You need that. What you're carrying around is a lot to deal with, and I want you to get the help you need."

"I know you do, and I'm sorry I was reluctant to do it before. I'm working on this, I promise."

She reaches out, hooking her finger in the loop of my duty belt. There's a reaction through my whole body. Goosebumps on my forearms, a gnawing in my gut, my hands itching to reach out and grab her, my lips stinging to feel hers. "Can I see you tonight?" She asks softly. Her bottom lip trembles. "I just miss you. The kids are going to be at your dad's, and I was going to spend the night by myself, but I would really like to see you."

"I don't want to talk about what happened." I warn her. "I'm not there yet."

"That's okay. I just don't want to be... I'm tired of being alone."

So am I. "I'll be there around seven?"

"See you."

She turns from me, and as I watch her walking away, I hope like fuck that this won't be the last time.

CHAPTER TWO

RUBY

I don't knowwhat came over me when I just asked Caleb if he wanted to come over for Valentine's tonight. All I know is I am lonely. It's hard taking care of two kids by yourself most of the time, especially when you know their father is hurting in ways you can never begin to imagine. Sometimes when I want to torture myself, I'll watch that video that was put on social media showing what happened to him. It never fails to make me cry and wonder why he wants to put himself in that danger day in and day out. But I knew who I was marrying when I married him. I just never thought he'd hide things from me and let it drive a wedge between us like this.

Getting to my SUV, I glance back at him. He's still standing there, watching me.

God, he's so hot. Since he left, he's been working out more, same as me. That jawline of his is cut, and I'm wondering what he looks like underneath his clothes. He's always been exceptionally good looking in a brooding sort of way, but the stress of the last few months has left him devastatingly handsome in a good way.

When I get into the SUV, I take a deep breath before pressing my thighs together. I fucking miss him in more ways than one.

My phone rings and I hurry to answer it. "Yeah Vi. I'm on my way, sorry." I rush out quickly.

"No problem, just making sure you got my coffee."

I glance over at my cup holder, seeing both our coffees and the cupcake wrapped up in a pretty box. "Sure did. Got us a cupcake to split too."

"Oh yay, see you soon."

"See you."

And that's one way to try and forget about what your husband bought you for Valentine's Day when you don't want to admit how much it meant to you.

It's6:55 and I'm nervous, as if this is the first date I've ever been on. I rushed home from work and took a quick body shower, before re-curling my hair and doing a touch up on my makeup. I don't necessarily know what I want from this night, but I do know I want my husband to finally see me as his fucking wife again. I want him to leave here thinking about nothing but me, or the way I smell, or the way my skin feels when it touches his.

I want him hard up for me in ways he hasn't been since we started dating. Maybe that's a little evil, but this is what I am right now. I want to be the one thing he thinks about all the time. The one thing he isn't sure whether he can truly have or not. I want to be his obsession, and the star of every dream.

I went by The Café on the way home and grabbed dinner so that I wouldn't have to mess with it. It's laying there waiting on us, and here I am waiting for him.

That's been the story of our lives for the last few months, but I'm ready to accept I might be waiting on him for longer. Truth is, as long as he's seeking help, I'm okay with it. That's allI ever wanted him to do in the first place. I don't know whether he's going to walk in, since he owns the place or if he's going to knock.

When headlights cut across the living room, and there's a SUV parked in the driveway, I know he's here. "You've got this, Ruby." I give myself a small pep talk. One I know I'm going to need.

In the end, he winds up knocking.

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