Page 6 of My Husband Problem

I'd honestly expected—and hoped—all the gossip would push him into sayingfuck itand ending this whole marriage.

It hasn't.

His lack of irritation with me is extremely irritating.

“You’ve waited all this time,” a voice calls from somewhere in the café. “I think you can wait a few more minutes.”

I scan the room and locate Brewser, a Perks and Rec regular. He is also a pillar of the community.

“You’ve got a point,” Declan agrees.

I frown. He’s supposed to glare at people who second-guess and disparage him.

“But I know that you’ve all gotten to know Astrid very well by now. It should come as no surprise to you that now that I’m finally here and have set eyes on her again, it’s impossible for me to put off our reunion for even five more minutes.”

There are actually a few audible sighs heard around the room and many grins.

I narrow my eyes at him.

They’re not supposed to like him.

He’s not supposed to be charming. Or romantic.Definitelynot romantic.

We don’t have reunions.

We don’t pine for each other.

What is going on?

But he meets my gaze directly, and damn him, he gives me a little smirk.

And my body reacts.

I don’t think he knows that that happens. I pray toGodhe doesn’t know that happens. It’s bad enough thatIdo. But just seeing him standing in the doorway in his ever-present suit, his hair a bit mussed from travel and maybe the Louisiana humidity and wind, already has my heart rate kicked up and my palms a little damp. And, of course, hisvoice.

That smirk makes body parts inside my panties react, and that ticks me off.

Because those body parts get excited and then can’t actually deliver any fun.

“Well, of course, we understand that,” a female voice that I instantly recognize as Muriel Coffelt replies.

I roll my eyes.

The town has divided into teams, Team Declan and Team Miles.

Several of the people on Team Miles are actually more Team Anti-Declan.

I very much appreciate how much loyalty everyone is showing me. They’re upset that my husband has “abandoned” me here in Louisiana, ignoring the fact that I came here without him rather than him bringing me here and then leaving me.

Everyone has decided that it’s a travesty that my husband would let me live here alone without him, and I’ve chosen to ignore that incredible lack of feminist energy for the sake of my own cause.

On his rare visits, I want him to feel totally unwelcome as part of my being-married-to-Astrid-is-really-fucking-miserable plan I’ve come up with. And I don’t mind at all that my bestie has been welcomed with open arms. Miles is moving here in just a couple of weeks, and we’re going to have the best time. He fits right in, and we’ve enjoyed all of the kooky events and festivals the town—okay, Nora—puts together.

“Thank you,” Declan says graciously, again giving the room a smile.

He has to stop that, or I’m so screwed.

Declan again meets my gaze, one eyebrow quirked.