Page 80 of Love Beyond the Illusion
She squeezes her eyes shut. “How much did you hear?”
“Not a whole lot. Just enough to realize that it didn’t sound healthy,” I say, maintaining a low voice as if not to scare her off. I want her to open up to me because she has already seen me at my most vulnerable. Hell, our current situation is because of my flaws in who I am.
“Like I’ve told you, my relationship with my mother is complicated,” she alludes, trying to dismiss me.
Looking down at Piper in the heart-shaped bathtub, she looks so small and defeated. I had no idea the depths of emotional manipulation that had been inflicted on her by her mother. I thought it was strange when I heard Piper call her mom by her first name. After the story Piper shared about her grandmother’s necklace, it should have been a red flag that something was wrong.
“I’m sure that it is. No one’s relationship with their parents is perfect. We all have our own level of toxicity.”
“You don’t understand because you grew up with caring, present parents. Your mom only wants the best for you,” her voice cracks and sounds weak. “She’s supportive and kind.”
“I wish I knew how to help you.” I lean against the counter, crossing my ankles. “I hate seeing you like this.”
“I appreciate it, I do, but this is none of your concern. You’re not my boyfriend. We’re not really dating,” she hisses.
That fucking stings.
“I am yourhusband,” I counter.
Piper has given me support and let me be vulnerable around her. She’s cared for me unconditionally and without judgment. I don’t want to push her to talk about it, but if I don’t, then who will?
She scoffs at me. “We both know that means absolutely nothing. This is a business deal, remember? You’re paying me to help you, not the other way around. I’m fine, and I can handle it.”
That one stings too.
It sure feels like her compassion toward me is real. I know it is. She’s upset and pushing me away, but I’m not letting that happen. But I am growing frustrated with her stubbornness.
“Fine. If that’s what you want.” I turn on my heels and head for the door with the intention of leaving her in here by herself. But then, I hear little sniffles as she starts to cry. Even the sad noises Piper makes have a way with me. I rub my lips together and decide against walking away.
I peer back over to the tub, and her face is soaked—but I can’t tell if it’s wet from the water or the tears that are now streaming down her face. My heart aches to see her reduced to this, and I can’t take it anymore.
I aggressively pull off my socks, shoes, shirt, and pants, throwing them into a pile on the floor at my feet. I step into the warm, sudsy water while her puffy face looks up at me with confusion. I lower myself to the opposite end of the jacuzzi tub and rest my legs on either side of her body.
“Hold me, Jack,” Piper says, her voice sounding desperate and small. It’s almost like she’s begging me to take it all away.
I drop my entire world, thoughts, and self-existence to clutch her tightly in my arms. She molds into me, and her muscles relax.
“It’s okay, my love,” I whisper into the soft skin of her temple. With my arms firmly wrapped around her, she releases and shakes with sobs. “Having to support your parent financially and emotionally at a young age is something no one should have to deal with.”
She lets out a delicate sigh, shrinking her body further into me and the bubbles. “How do you know that?”
“I’m not completely oblivious. I’ve picked up on things.”
Her gaze falls to the water, avoiding eye contact with me. “I’ve been trying to keep that part of my life private. I always have—out of fear that people will think differently of me or that somehow it makes me less lovable or worth anything. It was hard enough telling you about the necklace.”
Piper’s words shatter my heart. She is anything but unlovable, especially to me.
I lift her chin, rubbing my thumb over her smooth skin. “You are not unlovable. You are worth everything in this life. Anything you want can be yours.”
Her eyes narrow, and she kisses me.
I kiss her back softly and run my fingertips over the slick skin of her arm. “Tell me about Roxy and your childhood,” I say, hoping she opens up.
“What do you want to know?” she asks, lowering her lips on my shoulders.
“I’m sitting here naked in the bathtub with you, with absolutely no place to go, so whatever you’d like to share. However, once the water gets cold, you’re on your own.”
“That’s fair enough.” She smiles, then sniffs. “Roxy is not like normal people. My dad was thirty years older than her and married when she got pregnant with me. He refused to acknowledge my existence, and the last thing I’d heard about him was that he’d passed away when I was a teenager.”
