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I went over the full story with him, including her reluctance to go with me, and my insistence.

“Oh. An overabundance of personal responsibility.Thatsounds like you. Jimmy, you know it’s not your fault. She has a medical condition. You can’t control it. She can’t control it. It just is.”

I grunted. I needed to hear it, but that didn’t mean I believed it.

“I’m surprised you wanted to work out, given what happened.”

I scowled. “I didn’t. I got booted from the house.”

Chase glanced at me again before returning his focus to his steps. “What do you mean, you got booted?”

“Melena told me to get lost,” I said woodenly, trying to keep the self-disgust out of my voice.

“Really?”

I shrugged before realizing he was focusing too hard on his treadmill to see me. “That wasn’t exactly what she said,” I admitted. “But it’s what she meant.”

“Sounds like you’re reading a lot into it.”

I grunted. “Maybe.”

“I don’t think you should feel guilty, but if you are, what are you doing to make it up to her?”

Action. I could do something to make her life easier or better. Food was my go-to. “I guess I could put together a special dinner tonight,” I acknowledged.

“There you go. Word to the wise, quiche can convey many messages. Veggies in a pattern make a killer ‘I’m sorry’ quiche.”

“I don’t think I want to kill her with my quiche.”

He shrugged. “Your loss, buddy. Some of my best memories occurred after quiche.”

I shook my head and glanced around. “I hope none of the other guys can hear us discussing quiche right now.”

Chase pretended mock offense. “What? I make a manly quiche. Lots of manly meat.”

I groaned. “I don’t want anyone to overhear about your manly meat either.Idon’t want to hear about your manly meat.”

He wiggled his brows at me. “Yeah, but I bet Melena wants to hear about yours.”

I laughed. Chase was a goof, but he had a point. I’d make a nice dinner for Melena and relax with her tonight. We’d keep things low-key this week, and on Thursday Dr. Webb would fix her. Please let him fix her.Myheart couldn’t takeherheart acting up like this.

***

Isuccumbed to thepower of suggestion and put together a quiche for dinner. I loaded it with bacon to prove I was still a dude at heart. No one needed to see my apron or the fluted edges on my crust. Martha would be proud of my fluted edges. Each curve of pastry was an apology for being an ass. If food was love, then I was going to bury Melena in delicacies until she got the message.

Melena groaned after her first bite. “This isamazing. Thanks for making dinner.”

“Of course. It’s the least I could do after badgering you into going shooting today. I’m still kicking myself.”

She met my gaze over her plate with what looked like forgiveness in her expression. “Jimmy, you’re not responsible. This is between me and my heart. I’m glad to be getting the surgery Thursday. I want to put this whole thing behind me.”

My stomach dropped. What did she mean by ‘this whole thing’? Did she count our marriage in that? We’d barely gotten started; was she looking forward to the end? If the surgery resolved her arrhythmia, would she need me or my medical insurance anymore?

It was a shitty thing to wish for your wife to have continued medical needs. And yet, that’s where I was. Nothing life-threatening, mind you. Just something to encourage her to stick with me. Maybe a recurring ingrown toenail? That sounded innocent enough. I was terrible.

I glanced at her across the table. Even after our morning adventures, Melena looked beautiful in fuzzy sweatpants and a slouchy shirt. There wasn’t even any cleavage on display, and yet I was entranced. Her dark hair hung to her shoulders and shone under the low light in the kitchen. Her eyes were warm and liquid when they met mine. She looked at home in her own skin.

Maybe I could convince her to stay, even if she didn’t need to anymore. She seemed to like me well enough. I hadn’t been able to show her any of my special skills in the bedroom, but there was hope for the future. If I kept her in orgasms and quiche, would she succumb to my manly charms? A guy could hope.