Page 126 of Unspoken Lies

Lips pursed, Jared and I cross the house to walk upstairs.

“I think we should divide and conquer,” he says.

“Always scheming,” I tease him. “Lay it on me.”

“You’re just as bad,” he grunts. “She’s going to be worried about schoolwork. Keep her laptop as far away from her as possible. We’ll help her relax during the movie until she falls asleep and then figure out what she’s still stressing about for school. I figure she has to be almost done. All she does is write papers and read for classes.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I need to see how many classes she’s taking. It’s insane that she’s still behind,” I say. “Also, just for the sake of saying it, we are relaxing her, not turning her on.”

Jared snorts as we walk into my room and begin to strip the sheets to change them out for ones that are softer. Once done, we begin to add soft blankets and pillows. If we’re doing a movie day, then it damn well better be the fluffiest cloud of a bed possible.

“She should be here by now, right? I’m not being impatient?” I ask.

“No, you’re not,” Jared agrees. “I wonder what’s wrong. Set up the projector and I’ll go see.”

Growling under my breath, I let him go. I’ll search for some ways to help her while he’s gone too. It couldn’t hurt.

JARED

I find Rachelle splashing cold water on her face in her bathroom as I track her down. Walking slowly, I lean against the door beside her.

“Want to talk about it?” I ask.

“No,” she mutters. “I have toilet paper stuffed in my panties until Elijah gets back because my period decided to be dramatic. I just feel gross and overheated.”

“Elijah is on his way back. Arms up,” I insist.

She’s drying her face as she side-eyes me. “No. I don’t know what you want,” she adds.

“You’re going to take a shower. By the time you’re done, he’ll be back with your supplies,” I explain.

I was barking at her. Damn, I wouldn’t want anything to do with me either.

“I guess that works,” she says, wincing as she rubs her lower pelvic area. I can’t really say it’s her stomach.

“I’ll have a heated blanket plugged in on the bed, and Elijah is also getting pain medication for your cramps. Let us take care of you,” I say.

“Ugh, I just want…” she doesn’t finish her sentence as her gorgeous eyes threaten to fill with tears. “Fine. Get out, please, and I’ll shower.”

She’s still wearing a pair of leggings and a t-shirt, and not the pajamas I suggested.

“I’ll put out your pajamas,” I decide. “Ah, what kind of panties do you want?”

I haven’t gone through that drawer yet, mostly because I’ll be too tempted to steal some.

“I have some higher waisted comfortable panties in my drawer,” she says. “They’re not the least bit sexy. I’ll get them when I’m done.”

She shifts in discomfort and pain, her eyes still shiny with unshed tears. I wonder who it is that she wishes was here. Liliana? Ignacio? Fuck, I can do whatever they can, I just need her to open up to me.

“As your husband, I don’t give a fuck about sexy panties,” I say. “I think you’re beautiful in anything. I want you to be comfortable and not tied up in knots because you’re bleeding and embarrassed about it.”

“I get a period every month, asshole. I’m not embarrassed about it. I just hurt and I’m cranky,” she says, walking gingerly to turn on the shower.

If she thinks it’ll get me out of the bathroom, she’s wrong.

“I’m still waiting to find out why you’re about to cry,” I say patiently.

“I dislike being vulnerable with you all,” she mutters, pulling her shirt over her head. “I just want to be hormonal and nurse my cramps alone if Ignacio isn’t here to rub my stomach and tell me I’m pretty and Liliana isn’t here to bring me tea and snuggle with me. I know that isn’t fair, but it’s where I am. Turn around, I have to take off my pants and based on my level of pain, my vagina is currently trying to unalive me.”