Page 22 of Wedding Contract
“Don't hold back with me.” I drop my hand.
“I'm terrible at sticking up for myself,” I admit. “Even though I keep thinking about kissing you, I should be laying into you.”
“All right.” He stands suddenly with me in his arms, putting me on my feet before sitting right back down. “Lay into me, and then we'll kiss.”
“Charles.” A giggle bubbles free.
“I'm serious. Have at it. Hit me with your best shots. I can take them. Scream and yell. Get it all out,” he encourages. “It might help.” Is this man real?
“And if it doesn't?”
“Then I will do a better job at protecting you. It might not be your nature to scream and yell.” I stand there. Charles’s brows lift, and I put my hands on my hips.
“You’ve been lying to me!” I snap at him. That does feel nice.
“I stretched the truth. I’m sorry.”
“Try again without the extra words.” I wave them off with my hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“And you’ve been stalking me,” I try again. I’m acting upset about that one, but in all honesty, I like the idea of him being obsessed with me.
“That I can’t apologize for, but I will apologize for not being able to apologize.”
“It’s hard to yell at you when you keep saying sorry.”
“My bad?”
I burst into laughter. He’s so easy to talk to. It’s been that way from the very start. So many times I’d wished him to be my husband.
“My bad?”
“It’s not the ‘a’ or ‘s’ word.” He shrugs. I suppose it’s not. “I can pretend to be your sisters, and we can try again.”
“Do you have any knockoff clothing you can change into?” I hit him with a stare. My sisters’ faces when Charles called them out will forever live branded into my mind. For once, someone put them in their place. “Or a pound of makeup you can slather on?”
“Don't forget the headache-inducing perfume, but I don't think I can pull off those shrill voices.” Charles visibly cringes. It’s hard to remember that I’m mad at him. Though I’m not sure that’s the right word.
“It’s kinda nice to get a jab, but I don’t want to be like them. They’re so hateful.” I’ve tried to be the opposite of them my entire life, hating how they treated others and looked down on them.
“Because you’re younger and more beautiful.”
“They’re pretty.” In their own way.
“I mean, they’re okay, but it takes a lot of effort. You’re all natural.”
“You have to say that.” I feel my cheeks starting to warm. “You’re my husband, after all.” Wow, I know I have been married, but to put a face with his name makes it all so real now.
“It’s safe to say, even before I was your husband, I was enamored by you.” He glances around as if to prove his point.
“I don’t know what to do with that.” I walk over to the other side of the couch and sit down. His brows pull together, and a frown forms.
“You up and left yesterday.” His expression turns sheepish.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about the husband thing?”
“Well, seeing as I think that’s a bigger issue to get to, but you’d rather us speak on that subject, you have only piqued my interest more.” I play with the hem of my shirt. “It really hurt my feelings. I thought I did or said something wrong.”
