Page 56 of Wicked Oath
“Maybe I do need to worry if it’s interfering in our relationship.”
He stares at me for a second. “Nothing is going to get between us. I promise you that, Olivia.” He says it so roughly that I blink in surprise.
“Then why do you sound like it is, though?”
James picks up the paper and starts to read. “I’m not ready to discuss this, especially since I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet.”
I slap his paper onto the table. “James, talk to me. I get work can be stressful. I’ve heard my brother and dad complain about it enough times. You can talk to me if something is going on.”
“Nothing is going on.” He swipes the paper out from under my hand. “Just trust me, Olivia, and know I’m handling things at work. Once I’m through with some business, everything will be better.”
I squint at him. “Through with things? What does that mean? What’s going on at work?”
“Nothing!” he snaps, making me flinch. James’ eyes widen a fraction before he sighs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just … give me some space right now. Things at work are stressful, and I’m dealing with it. Some of my men are causing some issues, but it’ll blow over, and when it does …” He cups my cheek. “Everything will be back to normal, I promise.”
I place my hand over his. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t.” He removes his hand from my face, and I feel the loss of it profoundly.
“Why not?” My fingers itch to hit something; I’m so frustrated.
“Because it’s not your place to know. It’s between my men and me.” He stands up, pushing his chair back roughly. “I’m asking you to trust me, Olivia. Trust me to handle things. Trust me that things will return to normal in time. Can you do that for me?” His eyes search mine.
As I sit looking up at him, a pain enters my heart. Am I somehow losing my husband? James is acting so different from the man who approached me at the fight ring weeks ago. Ever since the fire at my father’s warehouse, I’ve had slight doubts about James, but I always chose to trust him. I made my vows, and I promised to stick to them.
And now, he’s asking me to trust him again. Everything inside of me says I should ask more questions and get to the bottom of whatever is going on with him, but … As a good partner, I should trust him. Which means nodding my head and accepting that he’ll fix whatever is going on and our relationship will be fine.
So that’s exactly what I do.
I give him a small smile and nod my head. “I trust you, James.” I think.
He lets out a breath and smiles. “Thank you.” He checks his watch. “I need to go to work now.” He kisses my head before hurrying out of the room.
I just sit for a few minutes longer, wondering what is going on with my husband.
* * *
Instead of sittingaround all day obsessing over James and his weird behavior, I meet Lucy at a restaurant downtown, needing to vent my frustrations to the one person I know will gladly listen.
“So tell me everything.” Lucy places her chin in her hand, looking at me with wide eyes. “I’m desperate for any news after you abandoned me the night of the fights when you snuck off with James.”
I wince. “Sorry about that. You saw the fight. He wasn’t himself. I needed to make sure he was all right.”
Lucy waggles her eyebrows. “And was he?”
I can’t hide the smile that passes my lips. “Eventually.”
“God, girl!” Lucy swats my arm. “I’m so jealous you get to have a husband who’s freaking handsome like James. No wonder you can’t keep your hands off him.”
My smile promptly disappears as I think about our tense conversation this morning.
“Oh, no.” Lucy’s eyes widen. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s just … James is acting weird lately. It’s like … after the fight when he wasn’t himself, he’s been acting cold and distant.”
“Crap. That sucks. Why do you think that is?” She takes a sip of her water, leaving behind a red mark from her lipstick. I’m shocked her parents let her leave the house wearing dark red lipstick.
“I have no idea, honestly. And it worries me.” I lean in closer to her. “What if he’s growing apart from me? Like, he realized he’s had enough of our marriage and doesn’t want me any longer.”
