Page 70 of Somehow You Knew

My chest is heaving, my pulse hammering, and my eyes burn with angry tears. This isn’t the reaction I thought I’d get over a damn recliner. But then again, I shouldn’t be surprised—this man is so hot and cold, I never know which version of him I’m goingto get.

One day, he’s closed off and distant. The next, he’s kissing me breathless in my studio.

I reach down and pick Blueberry up, turning toward my bedroom. “If it offends you so much, you don’t have to use it.”

I wait for him to say something. Anything.

But he doesn’t.

And I remind myself that it’s for the best.

The more we avoid each other, the less likely I am to fall for a man who’s already got one foot out the door.

***

The sound of the doorbell ringing pulls me from my coloring book. I should be editing, but my focus has been shit for the past few days, especially after Gage’s reaction to the recliner.

He could have at least said “thank you,” but since then, I’ve barely gotten two full sentences out of him.

Marriage. What a dream.

Standing from the couch, I walk over and open the front door. Once again, there’s no one there, and my eyes drop to the doormat, where a crisp pink envelope rests on top of a brown cardboard box.

“Just great.”

I take the box into the kitchen and remove the envelope from the top, setting it to the side before opening the package and pulling out a small box labeled,Truth or Dare for Couples.

Seriously, Diane?

Staring at the box, I can already picture Gage’s reaction when he gets home.

Blueberry barks at me from the floor. “Did you know your mom was up to all of this stuff?” His head tilts to the side. “I wish you could speak so you could tell me what’s going through your mind.” I scoff. “Then again, even my husband can’t seem to do that, so…”

“Are you talking to yourself in here?”

I jump at the sound of Gage’s voice. He comes around the corner holding a six-pack of beer, looking delectable in his signature all-black outfit, his hair a mess from his bike helmet.

Fuck. He’s like every teenage girl’s fantasy and exactly the type of guy their dad would threaten with a shotgun.

“Actually, I was talking to Blueberry.”

Gage looks down at the dog and then back to me. “Not sure that’s any better.”

I sigh. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t, I was just …” But his words trail off as his gaze lands on the counter, where the pink envelope and box sit like a ticking bomb.

His shoulders fall. “Is that…”

“The next letter?” I finish for him. “Yep. This one came with a box and I’m sure you’re going to be just as thrilled about its contents as I am.”

Gage peers inside the cardboard box at the game and scowls. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah.” I reach for the envelope and slide my finger under the seal. “Shall we see what your aunt has in store for us this time?”

Gage heads to the fridge to deposit his six-pack, taking one bottle out and popping the top. “Why the hell not? The sooner we read it, the sooner we can get it over with.”

“God, I’m so lucky to have married someone with such a positive outlook on life,” I say mockingly, pulling the paper from the envelope and unfolding it.