Page 57 of Arranged Control

“Seamus, wait.” She follows after me. “I’m trying my best. I swear I am.”

“That’s good.”

“I love the closet. I love your place. I’m just having trouble acclimating. It’s far from everything I’ve known and I’m just, I’m having trouble. That’s all.”

“I get it.”

“Seamus—”

“You should’ve told me.” I turn on her, anger spilling out. She steps back in surprise. “Don’t you get it? What this note says? Whoever left it thinks we shouldn’t be together. Don’t you know who it was?”

She blinks at me in surprise. “I told you. I have no idea.”

“Your fucking ex-boyfriend.”

Slowly, it dawns on her. She touches her back pocket and shakes her head. “That’s not his handwriting.”

“Come on. Who else would do something like that?”

“Alex wouldn’t. I mean, he couldn’t. You met him.”

She has a point. Her ex isn’t exactly the breaking and entering type. He’s more like a meth and STDs sort of man. “Then why didn’t you tell me right away?”

“You think I still have a thing for him.” Her eyes go wide with surprise. “Are you serious right now?”

“All I know is you got a note asking if you want to leave me and you kept it hidden for days.”

“I tried to tell you, but I was scared of how you’d react!”

“I guess you don’t have to worry anymore. Now you know.”

She stares at me, half confused and half angry. That’s how I feel too. I’m not even sure what to think. Alex breaking into her apartment is legitimately stupid, but who else would’ve done it? Who else would want to break us apart?

I know I’m having the wrong reaction. She didn’t come to me right away because she was nervous, and this is only going to make her afraid the next time.

I just can’t help but feel betrayed.

And pissed to all hell at whoever would dare pull something like that fucking note.

Before we can argue more, my phone starts ringing. She flinches and looks down. I ignore it, but it instantly goes again. Which means this is important.

Cursing, I take it out. “What?”

“Bro, it’s me. I need you back at the house.” Finn’s voice. He sounds stressed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just come to the house. We’ll talk in person.” He hangs up. I slip my phone back into my pocket.

Alina turns away. “It’s fine. You can go. I’ll keep unpacking, okay? I know you’re mad. I should’ve told you sooner and I’m sorry that I didn’t. But the note is nothing. The message is nothing.” She walks off, back to the bedroom.

I should follow. Tell her that she’s my wife and I don’t want to give her up. Tell her that ever since we got married, I’ve felt more stable. I’ve been drifting less. I’ve been more present than ever before, and it feels good. I like how she’s anchoring me. I like the way I am with her.

Instead, I leave, my stomach a burning hole as I try to sift through the implications.

Chapter 18

Seamus