Page 35 of Cautious Love

“So it’s like a shield?” I ask.

She nods. “Sort of. I don’t know why I never bought myself a fake one earlier.” She pauses, and her expression closes up. “I think I was still waiting for him to get me a real one.”

“Well, now you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

She goes back to the dishes, and when we’re done, she disappears into her room. Turning in for the night, I pass her door and hear her soft cries behind it.

Chapter 10

Shiloh

Pressingmyeartothe door, I wait for him to leave. It’s five in the morning and I’m dressed for work, but I still need to brush my teeth, and I’m doing everything I can to avoid my husband because I don’t want to see him. He knows too much now, and I can’t face him. I’m still shocked with myself. I married Ledger Hayes, and no one knows. I wonder what my mom would say, not that she’d care.

With every day that goes by, this feels like it’s getting harder and harder. I have no business feeling anything for my husband when I just got out of a relationship with a man who is capable of beating a woman with no remorse.

I need to focus on my own plan, save money, and work on healing mentally and physically for the next six months to a year. My heart needs to stay in my chest, where it belongs.

The garage door slams at 5:03 on the dot, like it does every day, and I wait a second, making sure he doesn’t come back.

When he doesn’t, I finish getting ready and get to the dinner by 5:30. I should be used to the morning shift by now because I’ve been doing it for years, but it still sucks getting up at 4:40 inthe morning. It’s not normal. No human should be up that early. Yet, I swear I hear Ledger in his room already awake before me. The man is like clockwork. He’s rigid and unforgiving in his schedule, and if everything isn’t the way he likes it, then it’s wrong.

I haven’t said a word because it’s not my house, and I’m living here for free. He saved my ass. By no means am I about to rock that boat.

I’ve tried to keep my things together, but I know myself, and I’m failing miserably. It’s the thought that counts, right?

Parking on the side of the diner, I go through the back door and hang my purse on the hook.

“Hey Shy, how ya doin’?” Bear asks me.

“Hey Bear, I’m fine. Where’s Jenkins? I thought his shift was this morning.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “What? You don’t want some chocolate milk in the morning?” he asks, gesturing to himself.

I give him a look. “Bear, you know chocolate is my favorite.”

“You know that’s right,” he grins and flips some hash browns. “Do you want some eggs too, Shy?” he yells from the window while I set up our breakfast menus. The closing shift is supposed to do this, but they never do.

“Sure. You know I’m not picky!”

“Hey Shy,” Mollie-Mae says, setting a cup full of coffee on the counter for me.

“Hey girl.”

“How are you feeling?” Mollie asks with worry in her eyes. She’s so sweet, and I don’t know why I feel a little guilty for telling Ledger about her, but the last thing I wanted was to dive deeper into my relationship with Grey. Mollie was a nice change of subject.

“I’m alright, thank you for asking. I think the ribs are healing up nicely. I go to the doctor today.”

She nods and glances at my ring, taking a sip of her coffee, before sliding her order pad into one of the little pocket on our aprons.

I know she wants to know who I married because she knows it’s not Grey. But I don’t think Ledger and I are prepared for the whole town to know. I’m amazed we’ve kept it quiet for a few weeks. It probably helps that Ledger isn’t wearing his ring. It doesn’t bother me though because this isn’t real.

The morning rush goes by quickly, and it hasn’t been a bad day. Until Grey walks through the door, all bandaged up and murder in his eyes.

I spin so my back is to him. I know it’s a terrible idea. My back should not be to him, but he won’t do anything in public. Right? I don’t trust him, obviously, but I don’t want to be anywhere near him either.

I start to slide my phone out of my pocket and call Ledger, but then I stop myself. I don’t have his number, and I probably should. And I can stand up for myself. I’ve been doing it all my life, why stop now?

I spin on my heel and Bear is already standing behind the counter giving Grey,try meeyes.