“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You’re seriously asking me that?” Her eyes narrowed as she stared back at him.
James didn’t respond.
Rory threw her hands in the air as annoyance got the better of her.
“How about the fact that you’ve been completely distant and distracted for nearly a month now. You don’t look at me the way you used to…you don’t look at me at all if I’m being honest. I miss our early morning cuddles and talks because, by the time I’m up, you’re gone and don’t get me started on how late you’ve been coming home.” Rory huffed, the weight of her words affecting her mood.
She turned hurt green eyes on him as she said in a pained voice. “You don’t even kiss me like you used to…It’s like…we’re two strangers occupying the same space at this point.” Her eyes slid shut as she released a soft sigh. She opened them to see James staring back at her, guilt written all over his face.
“What happened to us, James?” she breathed out.
His gaze fell to his feet. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I need to show you something.” He walked over to his briefcase and pulled out a file jacket.
“Now?” Rory asked, confused as to how this related to their conversation. She moved to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over the edge, then stood up.
James turned back to her; his expression guarded. “I’ve been trying to find ways to give this to you for over two weeks now.” He opened the file and handed it to her.
Rory reached for it with shaky hands. She felt drops of sweat form on her brow at how nervous she was. Carefully she began to read the words on the first page of the document. Her eyes widened into saucers before narrowing and tightening at the corners.
“What the heck is this?” she asked, gripping the paper as she looked back at James.
He released a shaky breath before replying. “It’s a…um…a prenup. Mom and dad thought it was a good idea to have one just in case things don…things don’t work out between us. They had our lawyers draw up the contract for us to sign,” he rambled, then palmed the back of his neck.
“The fact that you’ve had this for so long and that you’re actually giving it to me only means that you’re in agreement with them.”
He didn’t reply, but only stared back at her, his face riddled with guilt.
Rory felt her heart lodge in her ribs as her chest tightened with pain and her insides screamed out from the affliction and betrayal she felt.
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed, just as her hand flew to her mouth to stifle the guttural sound that threatened to leave her lips.
She shook her head, then stood up and ran into the living room leaving James alone in the bedroom before she’d return for round two of the argument.
How could he have done this to her?
ChapterTwo
“Com’on, Drea. You’ve been thinking about your bet for a whole two minutes now. Either call or fold.”
Andrea looked between the two cards in her hand, then at the four currently facing up on the table before looking around the table at the expectant and impatient faces staring back at her.
“Let her be Kerry. That is the mark of a true poker player— taking the time to consider all the odds before making your move,” Luke directed at his daughter, who sat at the table with a dour expression on her face as she listened to him.
Andrea chuckled at their interaction and turned her attention to her hand. “All right, I’m calling,” she finally decided. Picking up two of the chips from her heap, she placed them with the others already stacked in the middle of the table.
“Finally,” Kerry sighed in relief. There were other collective sighs of relief as the play passed to Jo on her left. Andrea playfully rolled her eyes while a smirk raised the corners of her lips.
“Check,” Jo said almost immediately, holding the cards close to her chest.
Soon enough, it was Andrea’s turn again, and this time she didn’t hesitate to raise the stake after the last card was placed beside the other four.
“I don’t like the sound of that. I’m folding,” Jo returned, laying her hand of cards on the table and leaning back in her chair.
“I’m folding too,” Tessa, who sat to her immediate left, decided a few seconds later.
“Me too,” came the decisions of her two Aunts, her mother and Julia.
