Author Anonymous - E.K. Blair Page 0,21

into the back and then turn to my dinner that I’ve hardly touched. His words echo in my head, and as sweet as they are, they are said all too often. The thing is, if it isn’t his work pulling him away, then it’s mine. We are both filled with excuses and apologies and words to soothe, but we’ve yet to find ourselves on the same page in life. I tell myself that maybe it’s supposed to be this way, that this is adulthood. I’m not foolish enough to believe life can ever go back to the way it used to be when we first met, but I guess I never thought the spark that once lived within me would die such an early death.

I make attempts to reignite us. Like tonight, wearing a pair of designer heels that are much too expensive, slipping into this dress that covers a sexy black lace thong, and taking my time to apply the perfect smoky eye. But he didn’t even notice until I forced him to look at me. Maybe the spark within him has burned out as well. Maybe it’s an inevitable part of marriage, and all those couples who claim to still have the wild burning fire are full of shit.

Landon reemerges from the back. “I’m sorry. I have to cut this short and get back to work.”

“We haven’t even finished our food.” I try my best to contain my annoyance, but my voice pitches regardless.

“I’m not that hungry anyway.”

He’s totally missed the point.

“Take your time and enjoy your dinner. I’ll be home around midnight.”

And with that, he gives me a kiss and returns to the kitchen, leaving me to finish our date on my own.

“Another martini?” Chelsea asks as she clears Landon’s dishes.

“Thanks, but I should get going.”

On the drive home, I turn up the music and blast it through the speakers to help alleviate my sour mood. The hassle of having Brooke watch the kids, the effort I put into my appearance, and the hope of having a nice dinner with my husband now feel like an utter waste.

“How was your date?” Brooke asks from the couch in the living room when I walk into the house.

I kick off my heels before falling back onto a chair with an annoyed huff.

“What happened?”

“He ditched me halfway through dinner and left me sitting there like a desperate housewife.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t bother asking.” Brooke doesn’t respond, but I can feel her eyes on me, and after a beat passes, I look over to her and ask, “Do you think I need Botox?”

“Girl, you started needing it last year,” she jokes and then shifts to a more serious tone. “What’s going on?”

Slumped down in the chair, I roll my head to look at her, and admit, “It’s been almost a month.”

“Oh.” Her voice is a mixture of surprise and sympathy. Or maybe it’s pity. “And you think it’s because he doesn’t find you attractive?”

“Hell if I know.”

“Don’t do this to yourself. You’re both so busy. It’s not surprising that you’re going through a dry spell. Everyone does.”

“Even you?”

“Tori, life isn’t like the books you write. I mean, maybe it is at first, but you and Landon have been together forever. You can’t expect to be jumping each other’s bones five times a day. You have kids, jobs, and a crazy travel schedule. Life is messy, and you can’t compare reality to fiction because you’ll always wind up disappointed.” She then stands and grabs her purse.

“You’re leaving?”

“I need to be up early in the morning. Ryder’s school is having a special donut breakfast for the parents and I can’t be showing up in my gym clothes next to all those fancy working moms in their stylish clothes and perfectly manicured fingernails,” she says with snarky attitude. “Plus, you need to spend some quality time with your vibrator tonight.”

“Why do I bother confiding in you?”

“Because you love my honesty.”

I stand and walk Brooke to the door. “Thanks for watching the kids tonight.”

“Any time.”

When I’m showered and in my pajamas, I skip the vibrator and crawl into bed with my laptop. I open up my manuscript to do a quick read through, but it doesn’t take long for me to get sidetracked, and soon I’m cleaning out my download folder. I go through and click open the files I don’t recognize, and before I know it, I come across the photo Alec sent me the other day.

After our conversation ended so weirdly, I never messaged him

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