Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

MARLOW

I t had been a couple of days since Spencer and I hooked up in the office, and while the tension between us had eased somewhat, the unresolved issues gnawed at me. It was almost worse than before the encounter. Because now I couldn't stop thinking about his lips on mine or the way he tasted. The way he felt inside me.

Instead of trying to avoid him because I was worried he was going to yell at me, I was avoiding him because I was afraid I was going to jump his bones.

After that little taste of him, I wanted more. I was hooked. We passed each other in the office and acknowledged each other, but neither of us made any effort to actually talk to each other.

I wore his love bite on my neck, which had definitely influenced what I wore the last couple of days.

I liked it though. I liked being branded by him. It had faded significantly, which made me sad. I wanted another one.

And that was why I was getting out of town. I decided a weekend away would be the perfect escape. I was going to Stone Ridge to visit my family from Saturday to Monday night. My mom was making pot roast, one of my favorites, and Rhett was itching for some company that wasn't just our parents.

And I needed to get some fresh air and out of the city. I promised my dad I was going to visit more often. That started now.

I drove in my new car, a sleek upgrade from the unreliable one that had left me stranded just a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't about to make the drive upstate again in a car that could break down at any moment.

I had spent the last week browsing car dealerships, trying to find the perfect car for me. I chose a BMW 3 series. It was a bit of a splurge, but with the pay I was getting, I told myself I could afford it. And I deserved it.

I had to admit it was nice. The leather seats, the smooth ride, and the sleek design made me feel like a million bucks. I couldn't help but smile as I drove down the winding roads, the warm sun shining through the windows.

I knew my dad would be proud and Rhett would be jealous. My mom was going to love all the safety features. It was a win-win.

As I pulled up to the house, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the front porch drowning in pumpkins. That was my mother's doing. She loved to support the local pumpkin patch and there wasn't a holiday she didn't decorate for. She was all about being festive, and to be festive, she insisted you had to get in the mood with the proper decorations.

Grinning, I got out of the car and breathed in the smell of cider pouring out of the house. It was a crisp autumn day, the kind that made me feel nostalgic for simpler times. I remembered the many falls here in Stone Ridge. Rhett and I would argue over who got to carve which pumpkin. Then we would argue about who carved the best pumpkin. Mom would roast the pumpkin seeds and we would sit by the fire in back drinking fresh apple cider she made herself and eat the pumpkin seeds.

Those were some really good times. I missed the simplicity of those days. I walked up the sidewalk, looking around for Shoop. I didn't see him and assumed he was probably inside lying by the fire. I could smell the smoke in the air and knew they had a fire going.

I knocked once before pushing the door open and going inside with my bag. The warmth and coziness of the house wrapped around me like a familiar hug. As expected, the scent of apples, pumpkin, and cinnamon filled the air.

I could hear my mother humming in the kitchen. I left my suitcase by the stairs and walked into the kitchen.

My mother, with her silver hair pulled back, was busy working on dinner.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted.

She spun around. "Marlow, you made it!" she exclaimed, wiping her hands on a towel before pulling me into a tight hug.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss your pot roast for anything," I said, hugging her back. "It smells so good in here! So many delicious smells."

In the living room, I could hear college football on the TV. I walked in and saw my brother and dad. Dad was in his usual recliner. He got up to hug me.

"Hey, Marlow!" Rhett called out and waved from the couch.

"Hey, you two," I replied, making my way over to the couch. Shoop lumbered in from the backyard, tail wagging furiously. He planted sloppy kisses all over my bare ankles. I crouched down to give him some love.

"I missed you too, Shoop," I said, ruffling his fur. "How've you been? I thought you would have been by the fire?"

"He's been back and forth," Dad said.

"How's the leg?" I asked Rhett.

"Good. Almost done with this stupid cast."

I walked back into the kitchen. "I'm going to put my suitcase in my room, and I'll be back to help," I told Mom.

I jogged upstairs to the room where I used to sleep as a child. The memories of long summer days lying in bed, dreaming about what the future would hold, filled me with warmth. I dumped my bag on the floor and noticed the posters I used to have, the ones of my favorite musicians and bands, were still hanging on the walls. I smiled at their familiar presence. The times I had been home I thought about taking them down, but there was a hint of nostalgia. I liked that at least in this small space, things were still the same.

As I made my way back to the kitchen to assist with dinner, I paused in the doorway to watch my dad and brother talking about some big play.

"Can you take this into them?" Mom asked.

"Sure."

I took the tray of snacks into the den for my dad and Rhett before returning to the kitchen to help Mom. I put on an apron and listened to Mom talk about the latest gossip from the neighborhood while she prepared the salad.

"So, Susan has her brother's old house on the market," she told me. "They're saying it'll go for a lot. I think they plan on retiring to Florida."

"I hope you and Dad aren't getting any ideas," I teased.

We both laughed as I continued to chop the vegetables for the salad. The familiar sounds of laughter, football, and the aroma of home-cooked food filled the air. It was the perfect start to the long weekend ahead.

"How is the new job?" she asked.

I almost blushed. Just thinking about the job made me think about what I did with Spencer in my office. I quickly got myself under control. "It's good. It was a little rocky in the beginning, but it's good. Kyla and I are finding our place."

She smiled. "Good. I imagine it must be nice to have a stable job."

"Mom, I had a stable job before."

"I mean now you don't have to worry about all the bookkeeping and things like that. You just get to do what you love."

"True." I nodded. "And I have an amazing team that is so talented."

We chatted a while longer. I set the table, and before long, we all sat around the table like we used to do when Rhett and I were younger.

The pot roast was as delicious as always. The tender meat fell apart easily with each forkful. The carrots and potatoes were cooked just right, coated with a savory gravy that made my mouth water. Mom had always been a good cook. I missed it every day.

Rhett squirmed in his chair. "I swear, I'm going to lose my mind if I don't get this thing off soon. Ten days. Ten more days and I'm mobile again."

"You should come crash at my place for a few days once you get it off if you want a change of scenery," I suggested between bites of roast. "I've got plenty of room."

Rhett looked thoughtful. "I'll think about it. Thanks, Marlow."

After dinner, I helped my mother clean up. Later, Rhett and I went out to sit on the porch swing to sit under blankets. The night was cool. The stars were out in full force on the clear night, which just made it feel colder. We rocked gently back and forth, the only sounds the creaking of the swing and the distant chirping of crickets.

"Dakota has been trying to get in touch with me," I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I've been avoiding him."

Rhett nodded, not looking particularly surprised. "Yeah, I figured," he said. "He's been asking me about you."

"Please don't tell him anything," I said.

"Do you know what he wants?" he asked in a way that told me he might have a clue.

"He's in New York City and wants to meet up," I said, pulling the blanket tighter around me. "Any idea what he wants to talk about?"

"Yeah, I do," Rhett said, his voice serious.

"What is it?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"He wants to talk to you about counseling," Rhett said.

"Counseling?" I repeated, confused. "What on earth for? For himself? Does he need a professional to tell him he's an asshole? ‘Cause I'll tell him for free."

"For both of you. Together," Rhett clarified. "He wants you back, Marlow. The guy is miserable. All he does is think about you and talk about you and the good days. He wants the family you both used to talk about. He wants you to come home. He wants to get marriage counseling."

I laughed, expecting Rhett to join in, but he didn't. His expression remained serious. "You're joking, right?"

"No, I'm not," he said. "Dakota's been talking to me a lot. He's serious about this. He's been seeing a counselor on his own and thinks it could help if you both went together."

I stared at Rhett, disbelief washing over me. Dakota wanted me back? After everything we'd been through? It seemed too absurd to be true.

"Rhett, I don't even know what to say," I finally managed. "This is unexpected."

"I know," Rhett said. "But I think he's really trying to change, Marlow. He's been doing a lot of soul-searching."

I shook my head, trying to process it all. "I don't want to go down that road again, Rhett. It was hard enough the first time. We aren't married, so marriage counseling seems pretty silly. And I'm not going backward. We tried being together and it didn't work."

"I get that," he said, his voice gentle. "Just think about it, okay? You don't have to decide anything right now."

"Rhett, I love you, but I'd rather go be a nun than get back together with my ex," I said. "Thanks for telling me, though. Now I know I don't have to answer his calls."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily between us. Dakota must be high on his own ego to think I would give him another chance. That was my past. He was not my future.

Eventually, the chill of the night drove us back inside. I went up to bed thinking about Spencer. And Dakota, unfortunately. I was going to have to make it very clear to him I was not interested in patching things up. He was holding out for something that would never happen. He needed to move the fuck on.

I had and the grass was way greener over here.