Page 85 of Takedown

“I’ll order something,” Tara offers. “Or we can go out if you’d be more comfortable at a restaurant.”

“I can’t. I need to get home to my wife.”

“I’ll send a car for her,” Ethan offers.

“I need to go,” I say to them again.

“We’ll be here until Sunday,” Ethan says. “The dinner invitation stands, or you can barge in any time.”

I nod, but before I can walk out, Vincent comes and wraps his arms around my legs.

“Bye, Uncle Adam. Will you come back so we can play with my Lego’s and meet Evan?” His big, blue eyes bore into mine while he waits for an answer. All I do is give him a firm nod before pulling away and walking out the door.

^^^^

“Mel!” I yell out the minute I burst through the door. I open it with so much force that it crashes against the wall.

She comes running, still, in the same yoga pants she had on this morning, only with bare feet this time. I smile at her yellow toenails. She runs to me, and I open my arms just in time for me to wrap them around her. I lift her off the ground and kiss her temple. This is the first time today that I’ve been completely at ease.

“I’m sorry,” she says before I can offer my own apology. “I was a bad wife.” I lift her off her feet, walk over to Lola and sit down with her in my lap.

“What are you talking about, Mel? You can never be a bad wife.” I stick my face in the side of her neck and kiss her.

“I was. I made everything about me when it’s not. It’s about you. I mean, I do wish you had shared it with me, but I shouldn’t have made it about me, and I shouldn’t have kicked you out of the bedroom. Can you forgive me?”

I stroke the nape of her neck and kiss her temple. “Forgive you? For what? Ishouldhave told you, but honestly, I figured it would be another wall you’d put up between us. Another reason why we couldn’t be together. You moved in here and all you talked about were spreadsheets, brackets, and being equal with your partner. I was afraid of losing you, Mel.”

She closes her eyes almost as if pained by my words. A stray tear seeps out and I wipe it.

“And I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way, Adam. I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to walk on eggshells because you’re afraid of losing me. You’re not going to. Not ever. I love you, and I need you too much to ever walk away. I know I never say it, but I love being married to you. And yes, I was scared after I woke up in Vegas, but do you know how long it took for me to realize how much I love being Mrs. Flynn. About two days. Marrying you is the best thing I’ve ever done. And I lied too,” she says. She looks down, and I grab her chin and force her eyes back on me. “I’ve been lying for months about not remembering what happened in Vegas. I remember it all, and I always have. I wanted to marry you, and I had a little liquid courage, but I wasn’t drunk. I wasn’t anywhere close to being drunk. I’m the one who dragged you to the chapel. I got scared when I woke up the next morning. I convinced myself you’d realize you made a mistake so I took off. But that was because of my insecurities. It had nothing to do with you. I couldn’t face being rejected by you and ran, but Adam, I’m done running.”

I put my forehead to hers and close my eyes, so relieved at her words that I want to yell in happiness. She takes my hands, lifts them to her lips, kisses them, and then puts them on her warm face.

“It took you two whole days?” I deadpan. When she lets out a laugh, I say, “I’m happy to hear that, love. So damn happy.”

I nod and wait for her to continue. “It’s true. I’m really sorry, Adam, for all the lies and for—” I put a finger to her lips.

“It’s okay, Mel. We’re here now, and you’re not going to run again. Right?”

“Right. But I have two questions. Were you ever going to tell me?”

“Of course, I was. Right after our honeymoon.” I kiss her knuckles and adjust her on my lap.

“And this ring? That’s the one thing I don’t remember. I remember getting your ring and a simple band for me, but when I woke up, I had this giant diamond on my finger.” She holds her left hand up and points at it.

“Money talks, love. I made a phone call after you fell asleep.”

She nods and playfully punches my chest. Once she’s situated on my lap, she asks, “Why are you avoiding your brother and sister?” I bristle at their titles. “They’ve been calling for months. Why not give them a chance and get to know them? At least have one conversation.”

I pull her closer and ponder my next words. “I don’t want anything to do with my father and that includes them.”

She runs a hand through my hair and asks, “But why? They’re not your father.”

I lay my head back on Lola and close my eyes. I can still feel Mel’s eyes on me, but I can’t look at her. Not right now. I feel her hand on my cheek as she softly strokes my face.

“That’s where I was when you texted me,” I say.

The gentle stroking stops.

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