Page 36 of Husband to Go

I don’t want him to leave. But I do. I don’t. I do. I’m getting turned on all over again, and it’s freaking me out.

I have to rein it in.

“Tanner,” I say in a calm voice even as my heart beats like a hummingbird, “What do you want from me? Do you want me to be your mistress? The ‘other woman’ while you’re married to my mom?” I’m starting to think that’s his endgame. I’m being strung along and prepped to be his side piece while my mom is his wife. How messed up is that?

“Kylie, I don’t know what I want,” he says in a grave voice.

“You don’t know what you want? Jesus!” I have to look away for a second because I don’t know what to say. There are tears in my eyes but then I cut right back to him and let it out. “You have had all this time to think about what to do. How can you have zero ideas?”

I can tell I sound shrill. Like a harpy, when my whole life, I’ve been more like a puffball. But maybe this new me can offer up an alternative. It’s not like thiswholething is on him. I’ve played a very huge part in this affair.

It does take two to tango, after all.

“Do you care about me?” I ask.

He seems surprised by my question but takes it in stride.

“Yes, of course I do.” He looks closely at me, those blue eyes shuttered. But also, it’s my turn to be surprised. I wasn’t actually sure how he was going to respond, or if he even would. It’s a bit of a relief to know our situation isn’t totally one sided, even if it is exhausting.

“Well, if you care about me, will you do something for me?”

He doesn’t hesitate.

“Anything, sweetheart.”

“Anything?”

“Yes, anything.”

“Okay, then,” I take a deep breath, “you’ll break off your engagement to my mom.”

He goes silent, his gaze still shuttered, which isn’t very promising. What is he thinking? I need a response.

“Tanner?”

He cocks his head to the side.

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” I say immediately. “Drop Veronica, and we’ll figure it out.”

He nods.

“Okay, we’ll see.”

I stare at him.

“You must be kidding.We’ll see?What does that mean?”

He looks regretful.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. We just have to see how this plays out.”

This time, I’m screaming.

“Howwhatplays out? What are you talking about? Do you want to be with both me and my mom? How does that work anyways? Who does this? You are one sick bastard, Mister.”

He looks regretful.