Wrapped In My Wife(6)

I bite my lip and nod. This is another thing I like about Nancy—she just says or asks whatever she wants. It’s refreshing. Plus, I can tell she’s genuine with her questions, and there’s no judgment.

“Damn. One dick for life. I could dig that if it was the right dick.”

I burst out laughing but quickly cover my mouth when I remember I’m in a library. I look around, not seeing anyone around. I’ve noticed this place doesn’t get busy until later in the afternoon.

“Are you married?” I ask once I get my giggles under control.

“Nope, just me and my cat. Only one though, so you can’t call me a cat lady just yet. Maybe in a few years.” She smirks.

I wonder if she means she’s getting married in a few years, or if she’ll be a cat lady by then. Either way she smiles so she must be happy about the future.

“My husband is up to something,” I confess.

I put my phone back in my pocket and lean my hip up against the counter. Today I went with pants. I love to wear dresses, but I was worried I might get put back in the basement and pants would be more efficient down there.

Though after spending the morning working side by side with Mark, I wish I could go back to the land of the dust bunnies. He’s a lot to get used to. He asks me a million questions, which is distracting when I’m trying to work. Not to mention I always feel like he’s hovering over me. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m new or he thinks I can’t do my job. Either way it’s annoying.

I’ve never given personal space much of a thought before. Normally it’s only my husband or the boys who are in it, and I don’t really care. Maybe I’m just not used to people being around me anymore. The only job I ever worked was in college at a bakery. I spent most of my time alone in a kitchen listening to audiobooks while decorating cookies, and I only did it part time over the summers.

“Go on.” Nancy turns her chair to look at me as if I’m about to give her juicy gossip.

“He’s been really cool about me having this job. A little too okay with it.”

“That’s not like him?”

“It’s hard to explain. My husband can be a caveman when it comes to me. He likes having all of my attention and I like giving it to him. When I first told him about looking for a job, he got all pissy. But then it was like a switch flipped and he was completely fine.” Now I’m wondering if I’m pissy because he isn’t doing his caveman thing.

“If I remember right, you haven't worked in years?” she asks. Nancy was the one who interviewed me for the job.

“Nope. I got pregnant right before college graduation with our twins. The two of them and my husband have been my life.”

I smile, missing them right now. I keep wondering what they’re doing at this very moment. I know Dylan is at work and the boys are at school, but I still feel like I’m missing out. I hate that I wasn’t there last night while they were making the posters. The boys hung on me like they hadn't seen me in years after I got home. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love every second of it. They are getting big and I worry about them not giving me affection like they do now as they grow up. I’ve been trying to soak it all up.

“So you wanted more than just to be a mom and wife? I get it.”

“No,” I say instantly, taken aback. I rush to defend myself. “I love being a wife and a mom. I just didn’t think they needed me like they used to. My husband has been working a lot more, and I needed something to fill my time.”

“Interesting,” Nancy says, more to herself than me.

“What?”

“What else has he been doing that’s odd?” she asks.

“Last night he seemed flustered, which isn’t like him. He was just acting different,” I admit.

“Emily.” I turn at the sound of my name to see Mark coming towards us. I force a smile, trying to be polite.

“Hey.”

“I’ll need you to stay late tonight. There’s an event over at the Carlton and I thought we should go over and say hello to a few people. A lot of the people there make donations to the library.” He adjusts his tie that’s already perfectly straight. It’s just something else he does that annoys me.

“Okay,” is all I can come up with. I don’t want to go somewhere with just him. I know Dylan wouldn't like it either. It almost seems like a date or something. “Nancy, you’re coming, right?” I throw out really quick.

She opens her mouth to respond, but Mark cuts her off. “I can only bring one person.”

“Didn't want to go,” Nancy mumbles. I second that.

“Take a long lunch to run home and change into something more suitable. We’ll leave here around five thirty.” He turns, dismissing us.

Crap.

I remind myself this is my job and I have to go.

“He’s been here a hot minute and I already can’t stand his ass,” Nancy says from behind me. I second that but keep it to myself. I pull my phone out, checking Dylan’s schedule to see if he can pick up the boys, but I see he’s booked up all day. I text our babysitter and see if she’s free.

She responds instantly, telling me she’ll pick up the boys and not to worry about paying her. She says we overpaid her yesterday and it’s not a problem.