Six Weeks of Seduction by Ellis O. Day

CHAPTER 82:  SARAH

Sarah kissed Maisie and hugged Peter and Kyle. Her mom had left a few hours earlier because she didn’t like driving in the dark.

“I’ll see you”—Maisie’s eyes darted to Nick who was cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen—“next week.”

“Next week? I thought we could go out for lunch tomorrow or the next day.”

Maisie hugged her. “You two need time alone.” She kissed her cheek. “Call me tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She closed the door behind them and the silence of the house bore down on her. The clinic had never been quiet. There’d always been machines and the soft sounds that people made just existing. She missed that. After years of only her and Tank, she realized that she needed more. Hopefully, she had more. She took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.

“I’ve got this. You go rest.” Nick glanced at her as he loaded the dishwasher.

“I’m fine.” She started wiping the table. He’d been distant all day. Perhaps, he’d moved on. “Thank you for taking care of the dogs. Tank’s doing well.”

Nick’s lips thinned but he nodded. “Yeah, he is. He and Sweetie are doing great. We go to the dog park at least once a week.”

“And Tank is okay there?”

“He loves it.”

She stared at her dog. She’d been holding him back all these years. Tank had been ready to move on, to live and she’d kept him prisoner.

“Why don’t you get some rest? I’ve got this. Seriously.”

“Maybe, I’ll take a bath.” She glanced at him. He was so handsome and kind and good and she had no idea if he was still hers. She wanted to ask him to join her, but his back was stiff and his face tight with tension. This hadn’t been easy on him either. “Unless you want us to do something else?” There she’d hinted.

“No. You take your bath. I’ll finish up in here and then…watch TV or something.”

“Oh. Okay.” The Nick she remembered would’ve been all over her subtle offer. Maybe, he’s nervous too. If it weren’t so sad, she’d laugh. Nick was never nervous about sex. He was controlling, commanding and often rough, but never nervous. She went into their room and shut the door, leaning against it. She’d find out soon enough if he still wanted her. “I think I’m going to go to bed after my bath,” she hollered.

“Okay,” he answered.

Had his voice gotten richer with desire or was that wishful thinking? Either way, maybe she could help persuade him into action. She had just the nightgown to do it too. It was green and black. His favorite colors on her. She opened the drawer and her breath caught in her throat. His clothes were gone. There was a large empty space next to her underwear where his used to be. She grabbed her phone and called Gina, her counselor.

“He’s leaving.” She inhaled deeply, trying to stay calm.

“Oh Sarah, I’m so sorry to hear that, but you can handle this,” said Gina.

“I know but…I thought…hoped.”

“People change. You’ll get through this. Do you need me to come over?” Gina’s no nonsense approach helped calm her nerves.

“No. I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? You shouldn’t be alone your first night.”

“I’m not. Nick’s here.”

“He’s there?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you said he left,” said Gina.

“Not yet, but he’s going to. His clothes are gone.” She’d fought so hard to believe she deserved and could have a relationship and now it was over before it began.

“Sarah, what are you talking about?”

“In our dresser. His clothes were there by mine, with mine, and now they’re not.”

“Did he tell you he wants out?”

“No, but he’s been distant.” And he doesn’t want sex. For Nick, that meant it was over.

“Sarah, we talked about this.”

She stared at the bathroom door. She should’ve never called Gina.

“You know what you have to do. You can’t guess what others are going to do or think. If you want to know how someone else is feeling, what do you do?”

“Ask.” She sounded like a pouty child. She didn’t want to ask him because then her fears would be confirmed.

“It’s always better to know, right?”

“I suppose,” she lied. That was one of the mantras at the clinic that she hadn’t quite embraced.

“Ask him.”

“Okay.”

“Swear?”

“I swear.”

“When?” prodded Gina.

The woman knew her too well. “As soon as I get out of the shower.” She was no longer in any mood to soak in the tub.

“Today. Out of the shower today.”

“Yes, mother.” Damn it, she’d hoped to slide that one by her friend. “Today. In fifteen minutes or so.”

“Good.”

“Goodbye…and thanks.” Now, she wasn’t only sad because Nick was leaving but dreading the conversation that was coming.

“You’ll be fine. You’re strong and capable but call me if you need to talk.”

“I will.” She hung up the phone and turned on the water, waiting for it to heat up before stepping inside the shower. The hot water soaked into her skin. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She’d be okay. Nick could go. She didn’t want him to but she’d be okay if he did. She squirted soap onto the loofah and ran it over her body, wishing it were his hands touching her skin.

She wasn’t ready to lose him. It wasn’t fair. She’d been okay with not having him in her life before but…now she wanted him—a relationship with him. Of course, she could try and persuade him to stay. Unless he’d found someone else, maybe they could work through this. She’d talk to him like she’d promised Gina but she didn’t have to wear her clothes. That nightgown would work nicely.