The Forever Experiment

12. Easton

12

Easton

Two Weeks Later

DISTRICT COURT, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA stares up at me menacingly from beside my desktop. I’d been told an annulment for Maya and I would be incredibly easy to file, considering we didn’t live in the same state and had virtually zero ties to each other outside the attendance at the same conference and a degree from the same pre-law program.

That felt like another punch to the chest.

I signed the papers when I got home from Vegas and have kept them beside my desk, an aggressive reminder of the complete ass I made of myself in front of the hotel two weeks ago.

Once the adrenaline wore off, I realized what a ridiculous request I’d made of her. It wasn’t plausible for me to think Maya and I could just…stay married. To think that she’d even want to—she has an incredible career, her family, probably friends too. Fuck, I don’t even know if she has friends or who they are.

None of it makes sense—my feelings, this marriage, my rash decision to leave Maya standing on that curb as I drove away. I feel ridiculous, but I can’t take it back, and I’m not even sure I want to. Regardless of how crazy I looked and how desperate I sounded, every word that spilled from my mouth that morning was true and real. At the very least, Maya deserved to know.

I suppose it’s not a bad sign that she hasn’t contacted me either. She easily could’ve obtained the paperwork herself and had me served. She hasn’t, and I’ve had no contact with her, which must be something, right?

My insides twist and knot themselves together as I tap my hands on the top of my desk, watching the clock. I have approximately four hours before I need to catch my flight to LAX. I’ll stay with Penelope and Carter tonight before heading down to San Diego tomorrow. That’s when I’ll face Maya and quite probably go crying home to my baby sister, Maddie, after my wife leaves my heart in pieces.

There is a soft knock outside my office door before Derrick peeks his head inside. Concern is present on his face, but it’s nothing new. I’ve been a complete downer since I returned from Vegas, and as much as I do actually like the guy, I’m in no place to explain myself to him.

“You have a visitor,” he says quietly.

“I’m not taking any more meetings today,” I mutter, avoiding eye contact as I click across my screen.

“Um…I think you’ll want to take this one.”

I lift my eyes, finding him swiveling his head to the door, as if he’s looking at whoever is asking to meet with me. I hear a muffled mutter and watch Derrick’s eyes go wide before he’s stepping aside. The door swings open completely as my wife barrels through it.

Maya

Easton’s mouth drops open like he has seen a ghost, rolling back in his desk chair like he can’t figure out if I’m real or not.

I turn to his assistant, smiling sweetly as I grab the handle. “Thanks so much, Derrick. I’ll take it from here.”

The boy cocks his head, not making any movement until the door is nearly hitting him in the face, and he jumps back just as it clicks shut. I spin, walking right up to Easton’s desk in the corner of the office and sliding myself to sit atop it. “Hi, pretty boy.”

“Maya, baby.” His face is pale, eyes fearful, and I hate that he’s feeling that way. “I have a flight booked to Los Angeles tonight, I swear. I was going to come see you tomorrow.”

“I know.” I nod. “But I came to you first.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I swallow my nerves. “You made your grand gesture, and it’s my turn to make mine.” I feel my bottom lip begin to tremble as my voice cracks on the words. “You told me you loved me.”

“Love, not loved.” His chest is heaving, features frantic, like he’s hanging onto every sentence leaving my mouth.

I nod. “It’s my turn to do the same.”

Easton’s lips part, quick breath escaping them in rapid bursts as his brows knit together.

“There are certain things about me that people feel compelled to change. My family. The men I date. I need you to understand that I do not want to change, and I won’t be with someone who tries to force it upon me.” I turn my legs, angling myself toward him, and our knees brush. “I’m never going to believe anyone else can take care of me as well as I take care of myself. Sometimes, I’m not the most thoughtful person. I forget birthdays and anniversaries. It’s not on purpose, but it happens, even when I try my best. I’m not a great gift giver, and I don’t think I’m very good at showing my love, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. When I’m overwhelmed, overstimulated, and overstressed, I self-isolate. I don’t want to be coddled or suffocated. I don’t like to cuddle…” I smile creeps up to the corner of my mouth. “I mean…I did like cuddling with you, but I don’t know if I’ll want to every single night.”

Easton’s hand softly finds itself on my thigh, rubbing those comfortable, soft circles with his thumb.

“My self-worth is always going to be led by my accomplishments, and because of that, my ambition will never be satisfied. I love my job. I love helping my authors make their dreams come true, so I work nights and weekends and holidays. I travel a lot. I put my career first, and as unhealthy as it may be, I likely won’t ever stop. It’s what gives me contentment, but…” I sigh, placing my hand over his. “This weekend, I realized it doesn’t have to be the only thing giving me contentment. I think you might do that too.” I lift my eyes from our joined hands to meet his face. “For the first time in my life, I want to be dedicated to something outside my work. I…I want to be dedicated to you, Easton. I want you to be dedicated to me.” A lump works its way out of my throat, showcasing my choked emotion. “I want you to be dedicated to exactly who I am at this moment—not who I was ten years ago, and not someone you hope I could someday be. I need to be loved for being just me, and if you can’t do that, then—”

He cuts off my words by surging forward, sealing his lips to mine. Cupping my face and forcing us closer, he kisses me with enough intensity to set my chest aflame. He kisses me like he has waited his whole life for it, like whatever has erupted between us is finally real. Easton kisses me like a promise, like I’m something to cherish, no expectations and no conditions.

“I love exactly who you are at this moment, Maya. I love who you were ten years ago, and I love every version of you you’ll become. I know you, and I may not remember doing so, but I know what I signed up for when I signed that paper, and I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” He kisses me again. “Now, can you tell me you love me back?”

I smile, running a hand through his soft hair. “I love you, pretty boy. I love you for exactly who you are, for all the ways you drive me mad and make me laugh. I love you when you think you don’t deserve it, and I’ll do my best to show you that you do.”

He drops his head, our nose and lips and hearts aligning. “I don’t know who the best version of myself is yet, but with you, I think I’m finally ready to figure it out.”

“How are we going to do this?” I ask, brushing my thumb across his jaw as he brushes his lips against my nose.

“I’m going to hand in my resignation. We’re going to California tonight so you can meet my sisters. Then, you’re going to show me where you live, where you work. I’ll apply for a job, you’ll interview me, and even though you’ll play hard to get, we both know you’re gonna make me an offer.” He smiles against my lips. “Then, I’ll sell my condo here and move in with you, or we’ll find a new place together.”

“I’m not moving, I love my apartment.” I giggle into his mouth. “Though, you should know, I’ve already taken up both the His and Her closet spaces, so you’ll have to use the guest room.”

He laughs, nodding. “I think I can agree to those terms.”

Pulling away, he takes my hand, helping me off his desk. I watch him open a drawer, taking out a laminated folder with one sheet of paper inside. Next, he dumps his laptop and nameplate into his briefcase before tugging me out of the office with him.

We stop in front of a door at the end of the hall, and he knocks once before walking inside. An older gentleman sits behind the desk, snapping, “What do you want, Mason?” without bothering to look up.

“Harvey, this is my wife, Maya Atler.”

His head snaps up immediately, eyes narrowing at Easton before flashing to me. They soften as he gives me an unashamed once over, raising an impressed brow before darting back to Easton. “Are you kidding?”

He smiles, proudly grasping my left hand and raising it to his lips, my massive ring glittering in the sunlight through the window. “Nope.”

The man turns his attention to me. “How’d a pretty little thing like you end up with an idiot like him?”

I hear Easton sigh beside me, his hand tightening in mine. His body language shifts, and I know the comment got to him. It makes me wonder how many remarks like this he has taken on the chin throughout his career, how often he had to pretend he’s not offended while his terrible boss chipped away at his self-worth little by little.

“What do you mean by that, Harold?” I ask, turning back to Harvey .

“It’s Harvey, sweetheart.” He looks me up and down again, blatantly pausing on my hips and chest before biting his lip. “And I was making a joke.”

Easton scoffs loudly, a wide grin spreading over his cheeks as he lets go of my hand and steps up to his boss’s desk. “I quit.” Leaning over it, he slides his letter of resignation in front of the man. “Now, you’re going to take your eyes off my wife, and if you disrespect her one more time, I’ll put you through that fucking window.”

Harvey’s mouth drops open in shock, his head swiveling to me as if I’m going to condemn Easton’s behavior. Instead, I toss him a sickly-sweet smile. “And if you ever insult my husband’s intelligence again, I’ll do the same.”

Easton stands, straightening his tie before grabbing my hand and heading to the door. “I’ll have Derrick clear out my office before the end of the day, and I’ll coordinate a time to grab my things with him directly. Good fucking luck, Harv.”

We exit his office without another word, leaving him gaping like a fish.

As the elevator door shuts in front of us and we descend to the ground level of the building, I say, “I think we should ruin his life.”

My husband chuckles, bringing my hand to his mouth as he brushes a kiss across it. “You’re so sexy when you’re a menace, Maya baby.”