Page 104 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“The election’s getting close. I think going home might be the smartest course right now. I just feel like that smoking gun we’re looking for will reveal itself between now and November 5th.”

“And you don’t think I should come? My presence might help draw it out.”

“No,” he said sharply. “I won’t put you in danger.”

“Fine,” I whined. “I just hate letting you go again.”

“It’s not forever and when this is over, think about where you want to go. There’s a good chunk of Europe that we missed. Australia. New Zealand. The entire Asian continent. Until I decide what to do about work, I’m a free agent.”

“I don’t have to work,” I teased. “I’m loaded.” He leaned in to kiss me.

“What will you do while I’m gone?”

I shrugged. “Hang out with Pen, try to figure out Sierra’s issues with Pete and maybe I’ll volunteer at the animal shelter again. We’ll see.”

The hours on the road flew by with small talk and singing songs on the radio. When he took the wrong exit, I cringed. “You’re heading to the airport, aren’t you?”

“They have to think they’ve won, babe.”

Shitballs… Dirty, smelly, unholy shitballs. I didn’t think it’d come so soon. “As long as you remember they haven’t.”

“Woman, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. The blowjob you owe me now—you want to talk dirty I’ll dirty that mouth.”

“What was that?” I blurted out because I wanted nothing more in this moment than to have him dirty my mouth.

His dimple showed again. “Why? You like it?”

“Ido.”

“Good.” He laughed an evil, evil laugh. “Cinnamon roll in the streets and alpha in the sheets. Got to say, Glory, that was your best idea since offering to share your bread.”

I licked my lips. “This better end soon.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I had no doubt.

He made the turn to merge us onto the road that led to the terminal.

“No sense parking. You can’t go back with me.”

Fair enough.

We spent an exorbitantly long time making out in the drop-off lane. Several times the security slapped the hood or top of the car and yelled at us to get moving. “I’ll pay the fine,” Blake said, not letting me go until he absolutely had to. I climbed out of the front seat, laughing when the guard handed him a ticket. Blake looked at me. “Worth it.”

He lifted his bag from the trunk, then came around the car to kiss me once more. “Won’t be long, babe.”

“It better not be.”

Then I watched him leave me.

Again.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Hey, Gloria, don’t freak out,” Pen said into the phone when I answered it the next morning after my husband left.

“Freak out… aboutwhat?” I asked slowly and a bit stuttered becausenowI started to freak out. “Is Ant okay?”

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