Page 2 of My Destiny

The relief I felt moments ago is quickly replaced by hopelessness. But even as I flop back down onto my pillow, my eyes follow him as he disappears into the en-suite. We’ll never be able to resolve anything if he keeps running from me. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

I lie there for a short time, stewing over what just happened, but as much as I’d like to stay in bed all day and have my own little pity party, I have things that need doing.

Sitting up, I throw my legs over the side of the bed and start to stand. “Whoa,” I mumble to myself. I feel lightheaded. Maybe I just sat up too fast. Maybe it’s stress. I place my head between my legs and I wait for the woozy feeling to pass before climbing out of bed.

After grabbing my running gear out of the drawer, I get changed. My mornings always start with a run. It helps to clear my head, and boy do I need that distraction today.

I head into the bathroom to run a brush through my hair. “What do you want for breakfast?” I ask Jake.

“Nothing. I’m heading into the office early,” he replies, tilting his head back to wash the shampoo from his hair.Of course he is.I roll my eyes in the mirror. He may as well move into that damn office. He spends more time there than he does here.

After reaching for my toothbrush, I line it with paste. I can’t remember the last time we sat and ate breakfast together. Trying to swallow my resentment, I remind myself that he’s doing this for us, for our future. Although to be honest, if this shit continues, there may not even be a future for us.

Once pulling my long brown hair up into a ponytail, I wash my face. “Oh, I forgot to mention,” Jake says, stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel. “Tonight is the office Christmas party.”

“Oh.”

“You’re coming right?”

“Do you want me to come?”

“Of course,” he says. “You’re my wife. How will it look if I’m the only one who turns up without a partner?”

“Right,” I say, forcing out a smile. Is that the only reason he wants me there? “What time is the party?”

“Seven, I believe, but I’ll confirm all the details for you when I get to work.” As I turn to leave the bathroom, Jake reaches for me, wrapping his fingers around my upper arm. “It will be fun; it’s been ages since we’ve had a night out on the town.”

“Yeah, it has.” I want to add that it’s all his doing, that he’s always at work but I decide against it. It would only start a fight. Maybe a night out together away from all the stresses of life is exactly what we need. Leaning forward, I brush my lips against his. “It’ll be fun.”

I mentally go through my schedule for the day as I put the coffee pot on. In an ideal world, a woman needs more than twenty-four hours to prepare for such a big event, and I only have twelve. I wonder if Pierre, my hairdresser, will be able to squeeze me in for a shampoo and blow-dry? I make a mental note to call him first thing after my run.

Jake’s dressed in a suit when he finally enters the kitchen, and for the first time this morning I find myself smiling. He looks handsome, and the blue shirt he’s wearing underneath his suit jacket makes his eyes pop. His light brown hair is combed to the side, and his baby face makes him look much younger than his actual age of twenty-nine. He’s four years older than me.

“You look nice,” I say, handing him his lunch.

“Thanks.” He brushes his lips against mine as he reaches behind me for the travel mug I placed on the breakfast bar. I wish he’d eat something before he goes, especially since I noticed his dinner from last night is still in the refrigerator. He’s clearly lost weight in the past few months. His fast-paced life seems to be taking its toll on us both.

“Try not to work too late tonight,” I plead as I straightened his tie. “I’m worried about you.”

“There’s no need to worry about me,” he says, giving me one of his sweet, crooked smiles.

“I can’t help it.” I fight back the tears as I stare up at him. “You’re my life—the only family I have. It’s only natural that I’d worry.”

“I know things have been rough for you,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me towards him. “Things will settle down soon, I promise.”

“I hope so.” Getting up on the tips of my toes, I place my lips against his. “I miss you.”

The corner of his mouth turns up slightly. “I see you every morning, and I come home every night.”

If I’m lucky I get to see him for a few minutes a day, but there’s no point pulling him up on that; it’s only going to end badly. “What time do I need to be ready tonight?”

“About that, I’m not sure if I’ll make it home in time. I have a late meeting. I’m going to take my tuxedo with me just in case.”

“It’s black tie? I don’t have anything remotely suitable to wear. I thought it would be just a small party at the office, or possibly at a restaurant.”

“This is a multi-million-dollar company we’re talking about here, Brooke.”

“Well, maybe it’s best if I don’t go.”