Page 42 of Masterson Made

“All of them!”

“If I don’t pick up my cell phone when you call, you’re two seconds away from calling a SWAT team to come find me.”

She knows why I worry when I can’t reach her. I have been involved with some very dangerous people and I would never want her to be a casualty of my choices.

“And you don’t respect the business I’m building because you think it’s some sort of housewife hobby. Something to keep Elizabeth busy when she’s not having your babies, right?”

“That’s not fucking true.”

“It’s totally true!”

“All I asked you to do was get some help with Knox and marry me. How have you turned that into me wanting to sabotage you? I’m your biggest damn cheerleader.”

“You have so much faith in me, huh? Is that why you want to buy me clients?”

“I want to help you grow your business.”

“So that I can stop working so hard and pay more attention to you?”

“Isn’t that what every business owner wants?”

“No, Roman, it’s not.”

I stare at her like we are from two different planets. What she is saying right now makes little sense to me. The whole point of working hard and making your money now is so you can enjoy it later.

“Joseph and Juliette spend a better part of the year traveling together because that’s what you do when you can finally slow down. They are enjoying the fruits of his labor together.”

“They only started traveling after he handed the business over to you, not while he was building it.”

“You want to do it on your own, whatever the hell that means, then fine. If it will make you happy I won’t mention the shit again. Ever. Okay? What in the ever loving fuck do I need to do to make you happy?” I explode with emotion. “Tell me word for word so I don’t fuck it up anymore.”

“Let’s stop. You’re too angry for this conversation right now.”

I briskly rub both my hands across my head and roar from pure frustration.

“Do I make you happy, Elizabeth?” I try saying in a calmer voice to show that I’m not being irrational.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Are. You. Happy.”

“Are you saying that you aren’t?”

“I’m asking the damn questions, not you. Why can’t you ever answer me with a straight answer anymore? Why are you so damn combative?” I raise my voice.

“So now I can’t disagree with you?”

“Hell yeah, you can because you do it all the goddamn time.”

“Where have you been going these past few weeks?”

I step closer to her to make sure my ears haven’t deceived me.

“Work.”

“Before you said you were going back to work.”

“Oh, you mean after all the times when we had a conversation like this?”