Because (Seven Year Itch #4)(28)

I can hear Aberdeen crying and I’ve had enough. I barge into the room. “Way to make her upset again, Shay. I think you should say your goodbyes and head out. Ab needs to get a bath before she goes to bed.”

Shayla has tears in her eyes as she hugs our daughter and ambles out of the room. I make sure Aberdeen is okay before following her mother.

I find her in our bedroom. She’s gathering a few things from her dresser. She knows I’m there, but doesn’t turn around to acknowledge me. “Thanks for making me feel like shit.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

“What happened to your late night out with your friends?”

The truth was that I hadn’t yet made the plans. Instead I told Shayla to feel her out. “It was rescheduled.”

“Lucky you. You could have told me you picked our daughter up from school.”

“I didn’t feel like talking to you then, and I don’t really feel like getting into it now. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve got a lot to do since my wife decided to up and leave.”

“You know it’s not like that. I’ll still handle my same responsibilities.”

“Don’t bother, Shay. If you can’t be here to stay, I don’t want you stopping by at all.”

She’s shocked. I’m giving her an ultimatum because I feel like it might be the only way to scare her into changing her mind. “So it’s going to be like that?”

“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “I guess it is. If you walk out that door tonight I’m going to assume it’s because you’re done trying.”

Now she’s crying harder. Her lips are trembling and it pains me to watch. “How could you be this cruel to me? All I asked for was time.”

“I’m not going to sit around waiting for you to decide when to come home. It’s not fair to me or Ab. You either commit to being a part of this family or you walk away. I can’t guarantee I’ll be waiting when you’re done figuring it out.” This isn’t entirely true. I don’t want my marriage to end, but I feel like she’s leaving me with no other options. If she wants to play hardball I’m going show her my rules.

She grabs her car keys and hauls ass out the kitchen door. For a second I stand and expect her to come back in to tell me off, but when she doesn’t I follow after her.

She’s sitting in her car with her hands covering her face. I can hear her sobs as soon as I approach the vehicle. She doesn’t know I’m there when I knock on the window. “Let me in,” I request from the passenger side.

I hear the doors adjust and get into the car next to her. Without saying a word, I let my hand slide over and place it on her thigh. “Is this what you want, Shay?”

She shakes her head and finally looks in my direction. “No. I’m not doing this to fight with you.”

“I’m sorry for making you cry, but I can’t sit around waiting for you to come home. If being separated is what you want I can’t stop you.”

“It’s what needs to happen for now. I told you all the reasons why. Is it so hard to understand we need a break?”

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing. We were fine, Shay. Everyone fights. Quit your bitching and everything will be fine.”

“Get out!” She orders with gritted teeth.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat and refuse her warning. “No. You want to hash this out, let’s get it all on the table. You expect me to sit around and be okay with you leaving. You think I won’t care when you pick up our daughter and don’t bring her home at night. You think I’m just going to wait for you to get your shit together. I’m not some dog you can put in a kennel until you have time for me. I gave up everything to be with you, Shay. I’ve stuck by you, even when you were at your worst.”

“You mean when I was at my heaviest?”

It pisses me off that she’s bringing her weight into the conversation. “Of course you’d think that.”

“I know it. When you look at me you feel sick to your stomach. I’m nothing like the women you want to be with. Your friends hate me. I’m sure they make fun of you for having to sleep with me. Do you pretend I’m someone else? Is that why you have to f*ck me with the lights out?”

“Seriously? You’re throwing this in my face? I turn the lights out for you.”

She’s banging her hands on the steering wheel. “Stop lying to me. I repulse you. I can see it in your eyes. You wish you never married me. That’s why I have to leave. It’s why…”

“That’s not an excuse to rip our family apart. We’re not teenagers. I’m committed to you.”

“No. You haven’t been committed to me, not the way a husband should. You settle. You do what you have to in order to keep the peace.”

“Bullshit. You’re putting words in my mouth. I’ve never complained about your body.”

“You say I’m fat.”

I’m pissed. It’s taking everything in me to not say something ignorant to make her shut up. We’re screaming at each other. I’m surprised the closest neighbor hasn’t come out wondering what’s going on. “You ask me if your butt looks big. You’re the one who says you’re fat.”