Page 25 of Glitter

Slowly, his smile grew before he pulled me tight against him and let his hands wander up my back as he hugged me. “I know. Thank you, angel.”

Later that afternoon, I was back at my place doing laundry and missing Henry terribly. It had only been a few hours since I’d left his house, and already I wanted to go back.

While I was ironing my shirts for the coming work week and waiting on my last load of laundry to finish, my phone buzzed with an incoming message. I jumped over the sofa to grab it, thinking it might be the man I couldn’t get out of my head.

Alas, it was just Amy checking in.

Amazing Amelia:

Coming to tomorrow’s jiu jitsu presentation? For some reason, my wife insists I remind you.

Ugh. Why are my work husbandly duties never finished? Even on the weekend??

Amazing Amelia:

Because you’re the best work husband in the world. And you know I could crush you like a bug if you refused me.

Amazing Amelia:

Like. A. Bug.

Fine. What time? Usual place, I’m assuming?

Amazing Amelia:

Ten AM and yes :)

I tossed my phone back on the coffee table after sending her an affirmative, cursing that I’d completely forgotten about herpresentation. She was a brown belt and helped out whenever her academy had their monthly performances. This time, she was taking part in a key demonstration with her coach and wanted her family and friends there for support.

The guilt at forgetting all about it irritated me. Thank God Amy’s wife had insisted on nagging her to remind me.

I ran my fingers through my hair as I stared at the clothes I still needed to iron. Of course, I knew where my mind had been all week, and of course, I knew Amy wouldn’t begrudge me obsessing over Henry like a shiny new bauble to play with. Especially once she inevitably dragged out as much information as she could on Monday about what Henry and I had got up to last night. But that didn’t lessen the guilt I felt.

I jumped when something heavy was thrown at the wall that separated my apartment from my neighbor. It only took a few seconds before the yelling started. It’d been quiet over the past few hours, but it was early Saturday evening, which meant it wouldn’t be long before the yelling would turn into screaming, screaming would turn into the sound of gunshots, and gunshots would turn into the sound of police sirens. Every Saturday night was the same, and I was sick and tired of it.

I wanted to be back at Henry’s.

My iron let out a hiss of steam, making me glare at it before I sighed. “You agree with me, don’t you?”

The iron didn’t respond.

Pity.

Before I picked up my iron again, my phone beeped once more. Amy had decided she wanted to continue the conversation.

Amazing Amelia:

What are you up to tonight? Still going out with Joy and Eric? Another public fisting, perhaps?

They’ve asked, but I’m not feeling it tonight.

Amazing Amelia:

Gasp!

Amazing Amelia:

I never thought I’d see the day where you refused an outing.

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