Page 25 of Fault Lines
“You’re not going to do this to us!”
I whipped around, surprise sharper than I wanted to show. “Me?! I’m not going to do this to us? What exactly am I doing to us, Cameron?”
He glared, dropping onto the edge of the bed to unlace his shoes. “You’re not going to pull away from me over something you agreed to!”
I could barely get words out. “But you did! You spent months pulling away from me—avoiding me, shutting me out,refusing to even touch me. But that’s fine, right? I’m supposed to suck that up?”
His hand went through his hair, the gesture frustrated and rough. “It wasn’t for no reason, Livi. I was heartbroken.”
“And that gave you the right to punish me? Like I asked for any of this? Like I trapped you into this marriage knowing that you’d never get the family you deserve?” My voice cracked, tears and anger tangled together.
His arms came around me instantly, voice raw at my hairline. “No. Don’t ever think I blame you. I was just lost. I didn’t know how to handle anything.”
“But you know now? Sleeping with other women is the answer?”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t want this forever. I just need you to give me time. It’s only been one night, Livi. Can’t you at least give it a chance? I need to work through this. I want to get back to us. But if you start pushing me away, we’ll just end up right where we were.”
“Maybe that’s where we belong.” My voice was jagged, the words scraping on the way out. “Maybe there isn’t an ‘us’ left.”
His hands framed my face, all sincerity and fierce determination. “Listen to me, Livi. We have to fight for each other. I’m not letting go, and you aren’t either. We’re bigger than this. We’re going to fix it, whatever it takes. Got it?”
For a second, when I looked up, the man I loved was right there again—the same eyes, the same hope, the same intense promise. My resolve faltered and I nodded.
His forehead pressed to mine. “You don’t run off again. When I saw your bag gone, I thought you’d left me. My heart just cracked, Livi. Don’t do that again.” His voice broke, only a little. “If you ever feel like you’re drowning, come to me.”
I grabbed at him, desperate. “Just change your mind. Please. There has to be another way.”
He kissed me, soft and almost shy on my mouth. “I need this, Livi. Let me try to find happiness again. So I can make you happy.”
He didn’t see how impossible that was, how he could break me trying.
∞∞∞
The morning walk to Timeless Treasures was, ironically enough, just that: a kind of gentle, timeless break from everything. Sunlight slanted across the sidewalk. The air was cool but not sharp.
Nate was behind the counter, grinning the moment the bell announced me. “Hi there, pretty lady! Fancy seeing you here.”
His mood was infectious; I found myself smiling. “Is Mr. Porter in?”
Nate leaned over, phone in hand, casual as ever. “Not today. Pops was feeling a little off, so I’m holding down the fort. What can I do for you?”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I was hoping to talk to him about that job he offered me.”
“Oh? Did you decide?”
I nodded, a little shaky but certain. “Yeah, I think it’s a good move. I mean, I love books. And the employee discount…” I tried for a laugh.
He matched it. “That’s the clincher every time. You can start today, if you want.”
My eyes widened. “Don’t I need to fill out forms or something? Or talk to him first?”
Nate shook his head. “He already offered, right? You’re in. I could use a hand. Unless you want to set a schedule?”
I shrugged out of my jacket, feeling lighter. “No, I’m good. Where do you want me?”
He led me behind the counter, into a small kitchen crowded with coffee paraphernalia. The smell alone was a comfort.
“You really are part coffee shop,” I observed, amused.
