Chapter 13
Graham
A fter dinner with Paige, I want more distance between Kat and myself. It is not hard to do, considering Kat has avoided me for months until Paige came around.
I was rather surprised this morning when I came home from my clinic hours and see Kat has come home early from Phoenix—four days early, to be exact. She has some half-ass excuse about a fight with her mom, but her makeup is ruined as if she has been crying. In all the years I have known her, she has never cried over her mother.
For the first time in almost a year wondered about my life and even asks about Chris and this new relationship with the stuck-up bitch nurse’s sister, Bre.
I fight back every bit of anger that enters my body at her apparent hatred for Paige. The woman who helped Kat despite her piss-poor attitude.
“What’s wrong?”
She is trying to play innocent, as always. I let out a laugh and grab a water from the fridge. Slamming it shut with my foot, Kat keeps her eyes focused on my every movement.
“Nothing,” I say with no interest.
I head towards the sink, desperate for something to do to avoid this conversation.
“Babe, come on. Please talk to me. Graham, I am ready to talk.”
She steps towards me, and I lean further away from her down the counter.
“So, the boyfriend must be gone then?” I ask, trying to control my anger.
I have had some suspicions Kat was seeing someone else because she isn’t the type of woman to go without sex like I have been. Nothing about our relationship is what I want.
“I don’t fucking deserve this shit, Kat. That ring on your finger is a fucking joke.”
I feel my nostrils flare, and I try to calm myself with another large swig of my water. Right on cue, the crocodile tears begin to pour down her face.
“There isn’t anyone but you. I’m trying here, Graham. I realized while I was with—”
“No, you feel threatened.”
I realize the mistake as soon as the words left my lips.
Shit.
“So, I wasn’t crazy. You were into that nurse?”
Kat’s tone seems to be getting more aggressive, and she is trying to work me up. Trying to get me to fuck her instead of fighting her.
In the past, I would have just thrown her over my shoulder, taken her into our bedroom, and let our bodies work out the frustrations, but now I just don’t care. I have lost interest in Kat long before Paige was even a factor.
Hell, I honestly don’t even know if Paige is a factor.
“Kat, can’t you just be grateful for once in your life?”
I try to hide the plea in my voice, but I have no doubt she notices.
“Oh, that’s right, because I need to count my blessings. I need to be grateful that you’re my prince charming, right? Did you ever think that maybe I didn’t want to be stuck with you anymore?”
Venom drips off her words.
“Then fucking leave!” I bark.
She just holds my stare far too calmly, letting the ever-present silence take over like always.
I close the lid of my water bottle and began to leave the kitchen before heading up the stairs towards my bedroom. We haven’t slept in the same room for over a year and a half and have not been together in a year, which isn’t changing tonight.
That last time we spent together, I was wasted and don’t remember most of it. The next morning, I hated myself for it and pretty much have shut down since.
I grab a few things, pack them into my work bag, and notice Kat standing in the doorway. Saying nothing, she comes up behind me and hugs my waist. I still, for a moment, just to see how she will try to spin this. Once her hands drift toward my belt, I grab them firmly and push her back. She bumps slightly into the dresser, and shock is in her eyes.
“I need some time to figure out if this situation between us is what I want in my life.”
My tone is deadly serious. I had been thinking about it for some time before meeting Paige.
“Seth’s fucking her, you know,” Kat says, knowing it will hurt.
Paige has gone on one blind date with Seth, but after last night at the steak house, I am pretty sure Paige hasn’t slept with him yet.
“That’s her business,” I say, almost meaning it.
“Liar.” She laughs before heading back towards the door. “It’s okay. Eventually, you’ll get bored and come back home to me.”
“This hasn’t been a home in years, Kat, and you know it.”
I don’t hide my disappointment.
Anger flashes in her eyes, and she says nothing before grabbing my phone and sprinting towards her room. I bolt after her immediately, but she manages to lock herself in. I go back down to the kitchen and grab my spare door key. I don’t care what she finds on there. I just don’t want to play her games anymore. This isn’t what I need, and it isn’t working. There is no love here—no foundation for a strong marriage. I need something else. To feel like everything is meant to be. I never wanted to be engaged for almost three years. I never wanted two minutes to feel like it was too long.
Deep down, I am a romantic and have wanted to fix her for so long. I am trying to heal her soul and be everything she needs, but the problem is I am not the guy she needs. Especially since part of me fears I’ve found the girl of my dreams too late.
When I unlock the bedroom door, Katherine stands stone-faced and hands me the phone. No fight left in her. I grab my bags before leaving towards the front door. Once down in my truck, I open the phone’s lock screen, and nothing seems to have been tampered with. I scroll through a few apps and am trying to determine how to proceed.
I know better, though. In time, something will transpire. I am still determining what that might be. I sigh before finally turning over my key in the ignition and heading toward the gym.