The Fallout (The Therapist #3) - W.S. Greer Page 0,49
engaged without seeing the other person.
It’s been seven months now since Eli messed up, and while I know I’m not over it, it feels so good to get back to what feels like us. Simple things like sitting on the couch and drinking wine together are what I missed, although my yearning for those things had been taken hostage by my anger. I’m still angry and I probably always will be, but I’m not being controlled by that anger now. It’s in the background, and I’m able to move forward as it walks behind me. The longer I keep my feet moving forward, the further behind the anger will be. Eventually, there will be so much distance between us I’ll barely notice it’s there at all. For now, I just have to keep my sights on what’s in front of me—what's in front of us.
“Well, it’s starting to get late,” Eli says while staring at the episode coming to an end on the TV. “Another busy day ahead of me tomorrow. I have to let Tom know I won't be attending an upcoming conference in Philly and he's going to go in my place.”
“Really?” I ask, frowning. I've never known Eli to be one to miss a conference. “Why aren't you going?”
“Ah, no reason in particular. I’m just not going,” he says as he lifts himself off the couch with a loud groan.
“But you never miss conferences for the business,” I say, following Eli into the kitchen carrying my plate. “Is something going on?”
Eli steps up to the sink and places his plate inside. As he washes it off, he speaks to me.
“There isn't anything going on,” he says. “I would just rather be here. With you.”
“But …” I begin, but I pause. I’m surprised to hear this coming from him and I can't help but think something else must be going on for him to make this change. “But you went to the conference two months ago. Why not this particular one?”
“Well, because it’s time for a change,” Eli answers. “I heard you when you said you were trying to get your schedule under control. I know what that was about, Demi. Even though you don't need to do anything different at all, I understand your reasoning. You shouldn't be the only one making adjustments for our sake. I don't need to attend every single conference or business gathering. Tom is more than capable of handling this when I decide not to go, so I’m going to start letting him do it so I can be home more.”
“Eli, you don't have to do that.”
“I want to. I’m doing it for us, and that’s always the right reason to do something.”
While Eli finishes rinsing off his plate and takes mine from me so he can rinse it off as well, I watch him while he has his back turned. It’s great to see him making changes for me, and I appreciate the effort he’s putting in to help us get past the drama he put us through. Standing here with his back turned, I recognize him as the man I fell in love with years ago. He’s still that man, and while I’ve spent the last half a year questioning everything, my love for him is not up for debate.
“Okay,” Eli says, turning around. “I’m going to head to bed. Have a good night, Demi.”
Eli flashes a soft smile before starting for the guest bedroom in the basement. As he brushes his way past me, I reach out and take hold of his hand. It’s the first time we’ve touched without me feeling a strong desire to pull away. I miss the feel of his skin against mine.
“I love you,” I say to him, holding him in place so he can't leave.
“I love you,” he replies, looking down at me.
We lock eyes, and instead of wanting to snatch my hand away from him, all I want is to kiss my husband. I want my lips pressed against his even if only for a second, and my body goes on cruise control when I lift myself to the tips of my toes to kiss him. My eyes close, and I sink into the feeling of our mouths pressed together. Instead of thinking about what Eli did, I think of how much I love and miss him. When Eli’s hand lifts and finds my cheek, I melt. Our soft kiss morphs into one of emotional passion, and neither of us has control.