Page 149 of Bottle Shock
I knew she would, that was never in question. It was always what comes afterward that has be worried. Because I don’t know the answer, and I’m terrified hers will break something in me.
“What about when the eight weeks are up?”
I hold my breath, waiting for the blow. For the moment she tells me out futures might not be aligning. I have no plans to let her go, but I won’t be able to follow her if she choose to stay in Chicago or move somewhere else entirely. At least not until Lily is older, and out of the house. She’s my priority, and I have to do what’s best for her, even if it’s not what’s best for me.
“About that,” she starts, and my stomach starts to sink. “I was going to tell you earlier,” she says, “but I wanted to wait until it was official. My old director got fired.”
I straighten. He deserves to be a lot more than fired, but at least there’s one small win in this. “That’s good right? He should be arrested, but it’s a start.”
She nods. “After I filed the complaint against him, they investigated and found enough to remove him from the theater, so yeah it’s a good thing.”
Her voice has me nervous. She should sound more excited or relieved that some form of justice has finally taken place, but she sounds…hesitant.
She breathes a humorless laugh. “The company offered me my old job back.”
My stomach drops. The words echo around in my headuntil they settle like stones. I try to swallow, but it catches halfway down.
I should be happy for her. I am happy for her. But beneath that it fucking hurts. Because I was starting to convince myself that after the eight weeks were up, she’d come back. Back here. Back to me. Back tous.
Instead, it feels like the air just got sucked out of the room.
I don’t trust my voice, because the only thing fighting to come out are words that sound a lot likestay.
And I can’t do that to her. Not after everything she’s fought to get back.
“Does that mean?—”
“I turned it down,” she says, cutting me off.
My head snaps up. “You did?”
“Yeah.” Her voice steadies, a flicker of pride in her eyes. “Because I think I finally figured out what kind of role I want next.”
I blink, waiting, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.“Yeah?”
“Remember that community theater director job I told Maggie and Carl about?”
I nod. Of course I remember it. I just assumed when she never brought it back up, that it was for the benefit of the lie. I didn’t think it was real.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it. Irene’s retiring soon, and I think I’d be a good fit.” Her forehead creases, nerves written all over her. “What do you think?”
I let out a slow breath. “I think,” I say carefully, “that if it makes you happy, I’m all in. And if it doesn’t, we’ll figure it out. I’m in this, Scottie. You’re it for me. That’s not changing.”
Her throat works as she swallows. “Okay,” she whispers. “Then I’ll call Irene.”
I pull her against me, rushed with relief, because I was bracing for bad news. “This means you’re coming back, right?”
She nods against my chest and then her head tilts, eyes meeting mine. “If the pool house is still available, maybe I can stay there when I get back.”
For a second I think she’s actually serious, but then I catch the flare in her yes, that little spark of mischief.
“Fuck the pool house. You’re not staying in there ever again.” I wrap my arms around her tighter. “You’re staying in this house. In our bed. End of discussion.”
“Very caveman of you.” She giggles.
“So the plan is: stay married, you go to Chicago for eight weeks, and then move here. Permanently.”
She nods, smiling brightly. “Yes, and then you’re never getting rid of me.”
