Chapter 35 Rule Seven Vera - Don’t trust people who won’t show their face
Rule Seven Vera - Don’t trust people who won’t show their face
The other side of the bed remained untouched and cold all night.
I’d fallen asleep waiting for him, partially out of exhaustion, partially from the alcohol.
I was more than embarrassed that I’d drunk so much.
My nerves had been going haywire, anticipating what we’d planned to do once we returned to the room. But then...
He fled.
Would our marriage last if we couldn’t speak to each other? All the doubts and worries people had expressed leading up to the wedding flooded my mind as I got up the next day and showered and dressed for the day.
We hardly knew each other.
I was a lesbian.
I was young.
I was traumatized.
The abuse I’d endured for many years at the hands of people I loved had altered my brain chemistry.
While it never changed who I was or who I loved and was attracted to, it made me skittish, and anytime a person raised their voice, I flinched and found myself retreating inward.
It had also created some abandonment issues, which were taking up my mind today.
I replayed the evening, trying to figure out just where the line was drawn for him. What had I done to make me so unlovable he had to run from me? Maybe it wasn’t me at all, but the pressure of being the first man.
Just as I was reaching for the knob to leave and find him, the door opened and he came barreling in. He fell to his knees, shivering.
“So c-c-c-cold.”
I stumbled back, and stared at him. Snow fell from his shoulders onto the carpet as he shook.
“Were you outside? For how long?” I circled him so he had to look at me. He sat up straighter and caught my eyes. They were riddled with guilt, and he quickly looked away.
“All night. Vera...” His eyes closed, and a small snore came from his lips.
“Emmett!”
He jolted awake and nodded. “I have stuff to tell you, but... I need some sleep.” Struggling to his feet, he removed his coat and dragged himself to the bed. Falling into it, his eyes were closed before his head hit the pillow. His lips were chapped and his cheeks and nose red.
Should I wait for him here? Looking around the room, I felt instantly stuffy.
No, I would wait for him elsewhere. Maybe see if there were other guests I could chat with over breakfast. I started to leave, but returned to the bed and pulled the extra blanket from a closet and covered him with it.
Even though our wedding night wasn’t what we’d planned, I still loved him.
Heading downstairs, I passed people on the way down. We smiled politely and went on our ways, but I didn’t really speak to anyone until I sat at the dining hall table, and a woman with dark brown hair and a large black hoodie sat across from me. She was in sweats and had large sunglasses on.
Lattice came by with a coffee cart, trailed by a woman with long bushy maroon hair in a skimpy French maid’s uniform.
“Coffee? Orange juice?” he offered.
The woman smiled from behind him, her lips painted a vibrant red.
“We have buttered toast and oatmeal.” Her accent was unfamiliar to me.
“Oatmeal sounds lovely. And do you have milk?” I asked them.
“Milk can be arranged. Scarlet, get the bride oatmeal.”
“Lucky girl.” Scarlet raised an eyebrow, then quickly hurried off toward the kitchen. Lattice poured me a cup of coffee and put it in front of me before moving to the other side to give the woman with the sunglasses her cup.
“Did you hear that, Catherine? This girl just got married.” His tone suggested amusement, but I wasn’t sure why.
“I heard. Who’s the lucky guy?” The woman snickered. She kept her hood up and sunglasses on as she sipped the scalding liquid. Maybe she was hungover. “He had a rough night or something?”
“His name is Emmett.” I straightened, suddenly feeling protective of him. “He’s not feeling well, so he’s asleep.”
“Sure, tell yourself that. Men suck.”
Lattice smirked. “We know an Emmett, don’t we,Catherine?”
“Once. I don’t want to talk about it.” She sipped her coffee.
I studied her. She was very pretty, despite me not being able to see half her face.
Latina of some variety was clear, based on her tan skin tone and dark hair.
She had a beauty mark on her cheek, resembling a dimple.
And despite the frumpy clothes, I could tell she was tall, voluptuous and. ..
Just my type.
Before Emmett, of course. I found myself staring a hair too long and blushed.
“He was just a stupid boy. I don’t really play with boys anymore. Girls are more my speed.” She lowered her glasses just enough to stare at me and make me blush again. “You ever played with girls?”
I swallowed.
She had no idea.
“Leave the girl alone.” Scarlet burst from the kitchen with a rolling tray full of food. She skipped over to me, placing oatmeal on my placemat, followed by a bowl of brown sugar, a banana, and a plate of toast. “We’re just lucky to have her here. Aren’t we?”
“Luck isn’t the word I’d use,” Catherine muttered.
This entire scene was awkward and confusing. It was too early for entertainment. Picking up my spoon, I added some brown sugar to my oatmeal and began to eat. The warmth hit my belly in such a satisfying way I instantly began to relax.
Catherine, from the other side of the table, seemed to be watching me, with her glasses pushed up. Her intense stare sent shivers through me, right to my core, but I pushed the dirty thoughts away.
I was married.
To Emmett. The man sleeping upstairs.
As I lifted another spoonful to my mouth, I caught sight of my wedding ring and it steeled my resolve.
When I was done eating, I’d go upstairs and wait for Emmett to wake up.
We’d then have the talk he mentioned and then finally make love.
It would be a good honeymoon, even if it wasn’t our original plan.
We would make-do with our circumstances, and once the weather was better, we’d be on our way to our future.
“How long have you known him?”
I looked up. “Huh?”
“Your husband. You look fairly young,” Catherine said.
“So do you,” I accused.
“I am ageless.”
“What does that even mean?” I finished my food and pushed my chair back. Lattice and Scarlet appeared a moment later, taking it away.
“You want to hang out?”
I turned back curiously. She had been so rude and now she wanted to be friendly?
“And do what?” I glanced at the window and motioned to it. The snow was coming down so heavy and fast, one couldn’t see a thing.
“I don’t know. There’s board games, I have cards. Let’s go somewhere... private.” She scowled at the two strange housekeepers, who snickered and slunk away.
“I can go for cards.” I wasn’t sure why I agreed. Just a moment ago, I had plans to go and make love to my husband, and now...
Something about this felt wrong. The energy this woman was exuding was almost dangerous. I shouldn’t be spending any amount of time with someone I was so attracted to.
I was married.
My uncomfortableness must have been showing because Catherine stood and quickly grabbed my hand. Lacing our fingers together, she pulled me through the house, my belly fluttering with excited butterflies.
Did I get butterflies with Emmett?
Yes, but... not like this.
Emmett was a soft teddy bear, my protector with a handsome smile.
But my mouth didn’t water the way it did when Catherine and I reached a small, private library, and she shed her coat.
My gaze fell to her chest. Her shirt was low-cut and very tight, showing off her figure.
My breathing became labored as she sat across and pulled a deck of cards from her pocket.
When she leaned over to deal the cards, I could see. .. everything.
She must have caught me staring because she smirked but kept going.
We played Texas Hold ’Em for the rest of the afternoon. Every moment that passed, my strength and resolve grew less and less. She was flirty, funny, and... sexy. And still, she kept her glasses on.
Eventually, we were interrupted by Lattice. He knocked loudly on the doorframe.
“The husband is awake.”
Was our time over already? Slowly, I put the cards down and stood.
“Well, I guess this is it. I have to go.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Catherine said, and I wondered if she felt something too.
Instead of walking with me though, she went to the door, shutting and locking it. My core tightened, and excitement filled my chest.
Catherine then reached up and removed her glasses, and the glass that was keeping us our tiny, fun, beautiful bubble popped.
Oh my god.