Page 42 of Fly Back to Me
She flashes a smirk before opening the car door. “Thanks for the walk.”
“No problem.”
I step back on the heel of my boot, waiting until her vehicle slips out of the lot. But even when she’s out of view, the speed of my pulse never mellows.
The clanking of ceramic dishes rings through when I step into the foyer. I shrug my leather coat off before hanging it on the mounted rack, and then I’m following the sound of the kitchen faucet.
I curl right when I reach the end of the narrow hallway, slipping behind Jenna to wrap her waist in both my palms.
“Hey,” she greets, momentarily peeking over her shoulder.
“How was your sleep?” I plant a tender kiss to her neck, only to rest my chin in the crook of it.
Jenna shrugs, arms fidgeting as she scrubs a plate with the sponge. “Okay. I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to working overnight shifts, to be honest.”
I knead her through the cotton of her oversized t-shirt, nuzzling my lips into her shoulder. “Switch to days so we have more time together.”
“You know the pay differential is worth it.” She shuffles her body under my grasp. “Cade, I’m really trying to do the dishes. Can you give me a minute? Please?”
The dreaded hammer crashes into my heart yet again, clubbing it until it waits in limbo for the next blow.
I peel away from her, licking my lips in an attempt to control my smart-ass tongue. My body swivels around, snatching an apple from the fruit bowl on the eat-in table. “Where did you want to go for dinner?”
Jenna pulls the faucet lever down, the thick stream cutting off before she snuggles her hands in a dish towel. “I got called in early for work tonight. Can we reschedule?”
“That seems to be happening more frequently these days,” I state before biting into my snack.
“Forgive me for having an important job,” she snaps, now using the cloth to dry the rinsed plates and glasses. “You’re going to work tonight too, so our early dinner would have been rushed anyway. We can reschedule when it’s more convenient for both of us. Isn’t that better?”
She hasn’t looked at me once.
Not once.
My eyes betray me, forcing me to witness her tossing her hair over her shoulder on a deep sigh. Not only has she not made eye contact with me since I came home, but her mouth does nothing to hide the way her lips sink at the corners.
When I rewind the clock back over the past several months, I realize I can’t remember the last time Jenna lookedhappy. And if there was one thing I could wish for us, it would be for her to flash the smile she used to.
The smile I was able to fuel effortlessly.
The smile I miss so much that I stumble to breathe when I realize I may have lost it forever.
I’m mid-chew through another bite of the crisp fruit when I ask, “What time are you going in?”
“Five.”
I gesture to the analog clock on the header of the kitchen, swallowing the sweet and tart juices before rebutting. “It’s only one o’clock. Let’s get lunch,” I suggest.
“I have too much to do. Clean the bathroom, throw laundr—”
“I can help with that,” I interject. “You know I always do.”
She runs a frustrated hand through her hair, spinning around to throw an arm up. “I just don’t want to be rushed trying to get everything done, okay? You’re stressing me out more.”
There’s an excuse for everything.
I bite the final piece of my apple, walking to step on the pedal of the garbage at the end of the counter. After chucking theremnants in, I stroll over to Jenna, her wide eyes catching mine when I peel the dish towel from her hand.
My fingers drop the cloth carelessly on the floor, finding the hem of her shirt right after. “Cade, wha—” she breathes.
