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“I am uncomfortable plenty of the time, Sebastian,” I said it lowly, almost like a growl. “I’m married to a man who barely acknowledges me. I moved across the country because I was forced to. I can sleep on an air mattress for one night. If it’s too much for you, then go get a hotel for yourself.”
“There isn’t much left for me there.” “Then what can I do?” he asked. I was silent for a moment as I thought about it. “Don’t worry about it,” I said. “It’s dumb.” “But it’s something. What is it?” “Just lay down,” I said. “Lay down next to me and . . . hold my hand, maybe.”
was being pushed to trap Sebastian in this marriage with a child. It wasn’t that I never wanted kids—I wanted them with the right person. I didn’t want to parent a child all on my own, and I didn’t want to have to hire help because my husband was married to his office. My plan had always been to get out of this and find real love, but first I had to figure out how to do it.
“You have freckles.” He said it like he was dreaming, like he was entranced by them.
He looked younger, a childlike excitement lighting up his face in a way that I had never seen before.
“You were smiling at those kids. Not your camera smile, though. Your real one.” “They’re funny.” I looked at him. “I mean, I’m sure their parents don’t think it’s funny that they’re running around, but I think it is. They’re so innocent. They ask for what they want without thinking about what others will say about it.” “You like kids?” Sebastian asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “Yeah, I do,” I told him.
don’t like being forced on a diet,” I replied. “I love eating. I’ve been wanting to try everything in Nashville since the moment we arrived. I’ll photoshop every picture if it means I can finally eat a fucking waffle.”
“Definitely the loaded hash browns,” I said, pointing to the left-most truck. “Then I want some of that hot apple cider. We can end on the other side with the ice cream and waffle truck.” “I like the way you think, honey,” he said. “Lead the way.”
Was food a love language? Because I was more attracted to him now than I’d ever been.
“What’s gotten into you?” “I don’t know. Maybe I like the nerdy guy who’s nice to me.”
“If that is what she thinks,” he began slowly, “then I’ve failed her as a husband, and I’ll spend every day attempting to make up for it.”
don’t need to find someone else anyway. For one thing, I can’t with the contract, but also . . . for other reasons.” “What other reasons?” “I’ve never . . . you know, come for anyone else.” Sebastian blinked, and then he turned red. “That’s a shame. You’re beautiful when you do it.”
“If you were happy, then yes.” “Is that all you wanted?” I looked at my hands, unable to meet his eyes. “I think so.” “And what if I told you that being happy is what I want for you?” I took a shaky breath. No one wanted me to be happy. “Then I’d say I don’t know how to be.” “You’ll learn,” he said.
“Because you’re doing this to escape. After all you’ve given up for your family, you don’t deserve to walk away with nothing. If they’re offering enough for you to live off of, then I understand.”
“I miss seeing your freckles.” “You like them?” “I like them.” His eyes met mine again. “I like you.”
“You look nice.” I laughed. “You don’t have to lie. I should probably change anyway. I totally lost track of time.” “I want you to look however you want.” “I know I don’t look good when I’m not in makeup. It’s fine.” “You look beautiful without it.” He came to stand in front of me. “I could kiss each one of the freckles.”
“I’m here to get my wife. You can’t just take her away whenever you feel like she needs to work out.” “Oh, honey. I was just doing you a favor—” “We’ve discussed her diet at length and it’s not healthy for her, nor is overworking her body. And no matter what, it’s her choice was she does with her body.” I almost cried. I also almost laughed at the shocked expression on my mother’s face.
“Lily, you haunt my dreams,” he said. “When I close my eyes at night, I see you, dressed in whatever the fuck you want to be in, whatever weight you are at. Any time I see any curve of you, any amount of skin, I want to touch it, with my hands, with my tongue. I don’t care what. I want you.”
“We should work on setting boundaries with our parents.” I groaned. “This can’t go on.” “I keep waiting for the contract to end,” Sebastian admitted. “Why?” I asked. I knew I had my inheritance on the line, but why did he keep doing this? “It’s when my noncompete clause ends,” he replied. “Hey, you only have a few more months to go.” Sebastian looked at me, eyes conflicted. “But then you’re gone too.”
“Did you want that salad?” he asked. “What do you think?” I muttered. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “It’s fine,” I said. He leaned in. “They have pie. I’ll get you a slice and we can meet by the bathrooms.” “That might be the hottest thing you’ve ever said.”
“I think . . .” he began, and my heart tightened from his expression, “I think we should talk about the future.” “What about it?” “I don’t want to lose you,” he said. “I don’t think I can.”
“I’d love to stay with you then. It may be hard, but my writing might be able to support us. For a bit.” “Thank God,” he said. “I was so scared I was losing you.” I shook my head. “No, never.”
put my hand on his wrist, below where things were red and swelling. “Thank you,” I said. “It was no problem. The moment he touched you I knew I wouldn’t let him get away with it.” “You didn’t have to stick up for me,” I said quietly. “Yes, I did. You’re my wife.” “I don’t have to be anymore.” “I’m not letting you go now,” he said, smiling. “I was stupid to ever consider it. I know who you are, Lily. Every crack in your old persona was a wakeup call for me, illuminating the real you and not the person you had to be.”
Here’s your happy ending, Sebastian. I’m glad we also got ours. I saw him read it, blink, and then read over it again. He eventually looked at me, with wide eyes. “No way,” he said. I nodded. “I did say I read them a hundred times,” I said, voice shaky. “Surprise?” “This is the book you wrote? The one you were so secretive about?”
“Wait, is this why you didn’t care about not being able to release the autobiography?” he asked. “If The Fair Originals is your book, then almost everyone has heard your story. Well, a dark fantasy version of it anyway.” “Yeah,” I said. “It’s exactly why. I’d worked through my emotions this way. All I wanted when we were done with the contract was to get out, and we did.” “This is incredible,” he said. “Who all knows?” “Just you.” “Thank you for telling me,” he said, “but now I’m stuck between being incredibly intimidated that my wife is one of the greatest writers of this decade and wanting
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“I love you,” I told him. “I really do.” “I love you too,” he said, and I felt the jolt in my chest I always did when he said those words. I never thought I’d hear them, and now that I did, I couldn’t get enough.
