Page 9 of Caging Liberty
“Fine,” I grit out, holding up my hands in surrender. “I won’t, under any circumstances, look through the mail delivered toourhouse.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes and try to remember this is just who Robert is. He’s neurotically private about his things, not just the mail, but most things. The housekeeper isn’t even allowed to clean his office. He keeps it locked at all times, and only he has the key. I knew these things about him when we got married, but I was stupid enough to assume he’d trust me one day.
He doesn’t. He never will. I’m not even sure if helovesme anymore… Or if he ever did.
My attention drifts to my laptop, but I keep my eyes on Robert.
I’m going to do it. I’m going to meet saltyshells. Maybe it’ll be the biggest mistake of my life, but I can’t do this shit forever. Maybe if I have something else for a minute, even if it’s just another man’s friendship, I’ll discover a new appreciation for what I have. Hell, maybe it’llsavemy marriage rather than destroy it. Robert currently doesn’t register my existence unless I’m annoying him, so how could we possibly get any worse?
Okay, that sounds like a bad justification.
“Can wepleasemove on?” I ask, guilt softening the anger in my voice.
Robert takes a deep inhale and nods. “Yes. Please, let’s do that.” His lips lift into a slight smile as he closes the distance between us and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, honey. I know my idiosyncrasies can be frustrating.”
I shrug. “It’s fine,” I lie.
“Can I make it up to you? I was thinking we could have dinner at Divine tonight. I already made the reservation.”
My heartstrings tug, and just like that, I’m conflicted about saltyshells again.
“That’s sweet,” I say, meaning it. But as soon as the words leave my mouth, my chest deflates. “I would really love that, but I was thinking we could order in tonight. Maybe from that pizza place Elsie likes. She got a rejection letter from Harvard today, and she could use some cheering up.”
Robert’s lips form a tight smile, and I brace for a fight, but he nods. “Even better.” He pokes my nose, something he does that I absolutely hate. “Call it in and come get me when it’s here. I have a few things to do in my office, otherwise I would go with you.”
“Sure,” I say, not at all surprised that he didn’t pretend to care about Elsie’s bad news.
He starts toward his office, then pauses and looks over his shoulder.
“Oh, and, sweetheart… Could you pick up my dry cleaning while you’re out?”
I nod. “Of course.”
“Thanks.” He winks, then continues toward his office.
I glance at my laptop bag but don’t move to retrieve it. Instead, I grab my purse and walk to the foot of the stairs.
“Els, I’m headed out for a bit,” I yell up the steps.
I frown when I get no response. The pizza is a pathetic attempt at making her feel better, so I try to rack my brain for something else, but I come up empty.
I lift my purse onto my shoulder and head out the door.
3
Liberty
I’m pulled awake by a scream.
Something knocks into my shoulder, and my stomach flips as my body sways. I struggle to open my eyes, and when I do, I’m more confused than I was a second ago.
“Help! Somebody help me!”
The scream is right by my ear this time, and I turn my head to the woman it belongs to. My vision is blurry, so it’s hard to make out more than her red, curly hair tickling my forearm.
“Help!”
“Shut. Up,” another feminine voice groans. I turn my head the other way to see a woman’s jet-black hair. My eyes travel down her black sweater and black shorts before landing on a pair of nearly child-sized combat boots.