Page 58 of Reclaiming Izabel

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’ve lost my appetite.” She continued up the steps.

“Can I sleep in your room?” I called after her.

Izabel flung an arm out and flipped me off.

I grinned. Yeah, I was sleeping with her.

chapter

fifteen

Izabel

I awakened slowly and felt eyes on me. My muscles tensed only to relax when I registered Drake’s slate-blue eyes. It immediately transported me to happier times. Anxiety surfaced. I was afraid that this was a dream.

“Tell me I’m not dreaming.”

“I’m real, baby.”

I traced his jaw. “I remember this.”

“My creeper tendencies?”

I laughed lightly and switched to my side so we were facing each other. “I wouldn’t call you a creeper, but you get this intense look in the morning.”

“How intense?”

“Like I’m your world.”

“You are, Iza.”

We stared at each other for long moments, eyes yearning for each other, but there was still an underlying fear of failing to return to what we once were.

“I’m sorry I brought up what you did again last night,” I murmured.

“I understand.”

“No. I need to make an effort not to hold on to my anger. I swear, I understand you more now, but the hurt is just hard to escape.”

“It’s only been a week. I’m prepared to wait it out.” He hitched his shoulders. “There’s never gonna be anyone else.”

I sat up, hugging my knees. “You sure about that?”

“Yup.” He narrowed his eyes. “And if you think there’s going to be someone else for you, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Because he had me watched.

And just like that, the pain came back. Although muted, it was still the worst day of my life that would be forever etched into my soul.

“I need to get ready for work.”

I scrambled off the bed and made it as far as the bathroom door before Drake spun me around and hauled me in. Tears spilled down my cheeks, wetting his chest. A silent cry, one borne from the sad memory, shook my body.

“I’ll make it up to you, baby. Just give me this chance.”

All I could do was nod. There was fear, but that fear had been overshadowed by a deep resolve to make our marriage work.

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