Page 41 of With This Witch
“I guess that makes sense. I’ll talk to my wife… but only because you said I had to.” Lachlan sighs like a temperamental teenager. Declan rolls his eyes at his dramatic ways. “So , tell me what’s been going on with you. I’m tired of talking about me.”
“I think we are going to need another beer for that. Give me a sec,” Declan says, getting up to get more from the fridge.
While Declan is away, Lachlan checks his phone, feeling disappointed when he sees no messages from Petra. He slides his phone back into his pocket as Declan returns with fresh beers and a bowl of chips. He settles back into his seat and then starts telling Lachlan about what has been happening around him in the last little while, but all Lachlan can focus on is getting home to Petra.
Declan convinces Lachlan to stay for dinner, giving Lachlan the perfect opportunity to check in with Petra. He sends a message to Petra, letting her know he’ll be home later—just because it’s the friendly thing to do, not because it is something a husband would say to his wife when out with friends.
Lachlan does his best to avoid overanalyzing the lack of response or even just acknowledgment of his message from Petra. Yet, despite his best efforts, his brain turns to thoughts that she is avoiding him, regretting what they did the previous night. On the drive back home, the anxiousness in his body builds. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and bouncing his left leg, he wonders if it was a mistake. Suppose she has decided to cut and run. Shadows start to leak out of him, creating a cloud of darkness rolling down the highway.
By the time he arrives home, his body aches to be near her, to talk about what happened; however, when he pulls up out front, all the lights are off. Entering, the house feels empty, as if its heart is missing.
As worry builds in his gut, he flicks on lights as he walks through the foyer, living room, and into the kitchen. Morris follows him from room to room, meowing, demanding attention, or most likely food. Lachlan scoops him up, scratching his chin, and carries him over to a stool to sit on.
She’s okay. She’s just taking some space,he tells himself, trying his best to believe it. After sitting with a glass of water on a stool next to Morris at the kitchen counter, watching the condensation roll down the glass for what feels like hours, he decides he can’t stand it anymore and messages Daisy.
Lachlan
Hey. You heard from Petra today?
Not expecting a response right away, he places his phone face down on the counter as he goes to his room and changes into his favorite gray sweatpants. He picks up a white T-shirt and brings it to the kitchen, tossing it on the stool next to him when he hears his phone vibrate. Anxiety floods his system as he reaches for it and flips it over, seeing a response from Daisy, but not one he was hoping for.
Daisy
Yeah, we went out for some cocktails this afternoon.
She left hours ago, said she was going home.
Is she not with you?
No, she’s not here.
Would she have gone back to her old place?
Maybe.
Can you try calling her?
I’m not sure she wants to talk to me today, or at least she hasn’t responded.
Yeah, give me a sec.
K.
Lachlan puts his phone back on the counter and puts his head in his hands, running them through his unbound hair. Why would she go back to her place? She didn’t want to give it up after moving in here, but as far as he knows, she hasn’t been there since they married. His phone vibrates again; it’s Daisy calling him. He swipes to answer.
“Hey, Daisy,” he says, trying to keep the worst-case scenario thoughts from taking over.
“Hey. She’s fine. She went back to her place to grab some things and fell asleep. She said she would pack up and head back to your place. Should be there within an hour.”
He lets out a sigh of relief.She’s coming home.
“Thanks, Daisy. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He can hear the smile in her voice as she responds. “Oh, and Lach?”
“Yes?”
“She’s a good one. Do what you need to keep her.”
