Wife Unwanted (Corrupt Vows #2)

Chapter 32

Thalia

IT WAS A perfect day for fishing. The sun was bright, and the waters were calm. Arther and Carey had their rods in the water as they lounged on the deck, while Mae and I reclined on deck chairs a few feet away from the men. I was partially listening to Mae chatting about her son while my thoughts were preoccupied by what happened yesterday. The kiss. Why would he do that after all this time? He had ignored me, acted like I didn't exist, but now that I was leaving him, he was acting like he wants me.

My gaze traveled to him. Carey, like in everything he wore, looked handsome in his fishing gear, a complement I never thought I would give to anyone. Next to Arther, he looked like a model in some fishing magazine.

"Your husband is handsome," Mae giggled, pulling me out of my thoughts. And as if he felt us watching, Carey glanced in our direction. He smiled at me, and I returned the gesture by blowing him a kiss. He chuckled and turned back to the water. Mae sighed. "The way he looks at you. I wish Arther still looked at me like that."

I swiveled my head to her. She must have seen the frown on my face because she waved off dismissively and said, "I am not saying he doesn't love me. I know he does. But sometimes I wish he would look at me like he wants to devour me." She slumped in her chair.

I drank my beer to hide my smile. If only that were true. Carey had a talent to turn a sneer into a look of love. At least Mae and Arther were buying the lie. Once this stay at Nantucket was over, I could leave him and never think about him ever again.

"So, are you thinking about children at all?" Mae said continuing our previous conversation. She spoke so loud that both Arther and Carey heard her.

"You must start now if you're thinking about it," Arther chimed in. "Trust me. You don't want to be mistaken for the grandparents at your child's graduation."

I looked at Carey for a signal. What was I supposed to say? Carey answered. "We wanted to wait. We've been enjoying each other's company so far." Mae and Arther would be forgiven for interpreting it as a man in love with his wife and can't keep his hands off her. The look Carey gave me was hot. That seemed to assuage them as theconversation moved on to fishing.

I finished my drink in silence as I listened to Arther pontificate about the best bait to catch a big fish. My drink depleted as the sun got hotter. I needed another drink. I checked the cooler, only to find it empty. There was a small fridge in the cabin. Carey had fully stocked it before we left, so I got up, picked up the cooler, and made my way to the cabin. The door to the cabin was on the other end of the deck. The waves were getting testy at this point and made walking on the boat harder. I went down to the cabin, filled up the cooler and climbed the two small steps back up, but as I was rounding back to where everyone else was, a wave rocked the boat. It was big enough to make me stumble, but small enough not to rock anyone sitting. My yelp attracted the attention of everyone, including Carey, who glanced over his shoulder at me with a furrowed brow.

"I'm fine!" I called out to them. The lid of the cooler had tipped open, however, and a couple of drinks had popped out and were rolling on the deck. I quickly picked them up, but as I was doing so, another wave rocked the boat. This one was bigger than the one before. I wasn't holding onto the rail this time around, and I failed to find my balance. I fell to my knees and slid to the edge of the boat. Great. At least I can reach the rail, I thought. But as I got up using the rail as support, another wave came and it tipped me over the boat. I screamed just as I went into the water. Upon hitting the water, I fought the rising panic, but as my lungs filled, one thought dominated my thoughts. I can't swim. I tried to float, but my legs felt heavy. The weight of the water pulled me down. My arms flailed in the water as I tried to swim and failing. Fuck. Is this how I die? Drowning while distant voices scream out my name. I heard a splash. Someone entered the waters. Carey was swimming over to me, but he was too slow. He was the last person I saw as I sunk.