Page 29 of Clear Shot

Now that we’re in the thick of it, I can’t help but think we could make it work.

Not if she wants kids, though.

That’s a hard line for me.

One that’s cost me relationships in the past, including my first wife.

She couldn’t live with the idea that we’d never have kids.

And I tried to change my mind. I really did.

Couples therapy, individual therapy, and a lot of soul searching.

In the end, I couldn’t do it, so she left and took a piece of my heart with her.

That’s when I decided marriage wasn’t for me.

I don’t know why I thought it might be different with Hana, but I never gave the kids angle a second thought. Mostly because it’s not a real marriage. I’m doing her a favor, and I have to keep that in mind whenever I start having these weird possessive feelings for her.

Kids were one of the reasons I didn’t ask her out in the first place.

I’ve always had a thing for her but I know women like her—who come from large, traditional families—almost always wantkids of their own. Since I can’t give them to her it’s better not to get involved. It will only make things harder.

Except for one pesky little detail—we’remarried.

She’s my wife.

And I want her so fucking bad I can taste it.

Chapter 11

Hana

Something is goingon with Aiden.

It started the other night after the game and I haven’t been able to get it out of him. He’s leaving on a road trip today and I’ve done my best to help him get ready but he’s been doing this a long time. He keeps a bag packed all the time, with a revolving door of suits that go to and come back from the dry cleaner.

He keeps a double set of toiletries ready to go so he never has to pack them, and it’s the same with socks and underwear. There’s literally nothing for me to do and the strange distance between us since the other night feels like a chasm the size of California.

“Are you mad at me?” I blurt as he’s zipping up his bag.

His back is to me but I see him freeze before he slowly shakes his head.

“Not at all. Just busy.”

“Come on, Aiden. This doesn’t work if we don’t talk.”

He straightens up and turns to me. “I just want to keep things casual, you know?”

“You said you wanted us to date.” I frown at him. “Now you’re sending me mixed signals. I thought we were better friends than this. Frankly, I didn’t take you for a game player. Not in this context anyway.”

He seems to be thinking and finally nods.

“Okay, you’re right.” He finishes zipping up his garment bag and then lays it over his suitcase. He walks over to the bed and motions for me to sit beside him.

“Are you mad?” I whisper, suddenly feeling vulnerable.

He shakes his head. “Not at you.”