Page 25 of Never Have We Ever
“And you?”
Valeska bit her lip. “I have not been myself this past year.”
“I know. The recovery has been difficult.”
“You can say that again.”
He found her beneath the covers. “Do you go to your therapy? It is good for you.”
“When I can be bothered. It’s hard raising two kids in Paris.” Valeska missed Monaco. The atmosphere in Paris was sodifferent. Stressful. At least in Monaco she had the views and the weather to calm her nerves when high society grew impatient with her shoddy French. “Maybe it’s for the best we can’t have more.”
“You always said two was the perfect number. So, we have two.”
“You wouldn’t mind more, though.”
“No, but I’m the father. You do the hard work. It’s your decision.”
“Like it was my decision to nameour son Thomas, even though you lobbied for four months to name him Louis?”
“My father’s name. It is nothing special.”
Naming our son after a man I’ve spoken to about five times in my life?Twice at the wedding alone! “It doesn’t matter. We have a son and a daughter. We’ve replaced ourselves.”
“They are healthy, and so are we.”
Valeska put her book on the nightstand, but could not bring herselfto turn toward her husband. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been a good wife this past year.”
“How can you say this?” André propped himself up on his elbow. His muscular physique loomed over his wife, but what once excited her years ago now reminded her that so much had disappeared in so little time. She was eight years older since agreeing to marry the man beside her. They had lived in two differentcountries and created two children. Valeska couldn’t count how many times he fucked her in the ass, let alone how many times they made love intotal.Although she could count how many times in the past year.
Zero.
“You are afantastiquewife. How could I ask for someone better?”
Valeska didn’t answer.
“You are always responsible and keep my home waiting for me. You gave me two beautiful childrenwho will one day make my family name proud. And you are beautiful,non?” His hand wrapped around her thigh. Dangerously close to her underwear, although Valeska did not worry about him venturing forth without her consent. “I love you, Leska. Do you not believe me?”
She held her hands to her chest and kept her face pointed away from his.Please end this madness, André. I can’t stand it.Tearswelled behind her eyes.
“I am always thinking of you. When I’m away from home, I think about you every hour. I think about you now, too. Because you are not healthy.”
She turned away from him.
“Leska.”
“Please, let it go, André. I can’t do it.”
“Do what?”
“Theamour,you bastard.”
“Does it hurt? Are you in pain? Tell me the rules. I can follow them.”
“Leave me alone.”
He stopped speaking,although he remained intimately close to her. “I miss you, Leska.”
“If I blow you, will you shut up?”
