by Sandi Lynn
“There you are.” Wyatt smiled as he walked into the foyer and kissed me.
As much as I wanted to pull away, I couldn’t. I needed to act as if nothing happened.
“Hi. How was your day?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen and found Coco Chanel eating from her bowl.
“It was good. You went shopping and didn’t buy anything?” He looked at me strangely.
“Didn’t really see anything I liked.”
I reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.
“What do you want to do for dinner?” Wyatt asked.
“I’m not hungry. In fact, my head is killing me, so I’m going to take a pill and lie down for a while. You go ahead and get whatever you want.”
“Why is your head killing you?”
I wanted to shout that I saw him with that woman, but I couldn’t.
“I don’t know. Maybe I overdid it.”
He pressed his lips against my forehead.
“Get some rest, sweetheart.”
I gave him a small fake smile and headed to the bedroom. I could barely look at him. What I needed to do was take a hot bath and try to relax. I started the water and put in a few drops of lavender essential oil and a capful of lavender bubble bath. After stripping out of my clothes, I climbed in and sank down until the bubbles were up to my neck. Closing my eyes, I took in the soft scent of lavender.
“I thought you were going to lie down?” I heard Wyatt speak.
“I am,” I replied with my eyes still closed.
“Do you need anything?”
Yeah. To be left the fuck alone.
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll be in my office.”
I heard him walk out and I opened my eyes. My heart was shattered, and I didn’t know what to do. We’d been through so much the past few months. It would make sense that he’d find comfort in another woman’s arms. Maybe he met her through work and told her about me. Maybe she could sense the stress he was under and reached out to him. Maybe he felt trapped and she was the normalcy I couldn’t give him. My sadness suddenly started to turn into anger as I felt the throbbing pain in my head exactly where my incision was.
I climbed out of the tub, slipped into my two-piece black pajamas, and went downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, I stood and stared at the food that sat inside.
“I ordered a pizza,” Wyatt spoke as he walked into the kitchen. “It should be here in a few minutes.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then why are you staring into the refrigerator?”
“I don’t know.”
Wyatt’s phone dinged, and a sick feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it was her.
“Laurel, did you know that Craig and Maddy had their baby today?”
“Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you.” I grabbed a bottle of wine.
“You forgot to tell me? How could you forget about something like that?”
I reached up and pulled down a wine glass from the rack.
“Gee, maybe because I had brain surgery three months ago and my memory sucks these days!” I spoke with an attitude.
He glared at me from across the kitchen.
“I would have assumed you would have called and told me right away.”
“You were in a meeting, so how could I?”
“You know I always answer when you text or call me when I’m in a meeting.”
I picked up the glass and took a sip.
“By the way, how was your meeting?”
“It was good. Why?”
Yeah. I bet it was good, asshole.
“Just wondering.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“You seem really off today. Is everything okay, sweetheart?”
I clenched my fist that was resting by my side.
“I’m just tired.” I walked past him and went up to our room. Coco Chanel ran after me and beat me to the bed.
I pulled back the covers and climbed in. A few moments later, Wyatt walked in with a tray and two plates with pizza on them.
“I know you said you weren’t hungry, but I think you should at least try and eat,” he spoke as he sat down on the bed next to me.
I ended up eating a half of piece and finished off my glass of wine.
“I’m going to bed now,” I spoke.
I just wanted this day to end so badly. Maybe I was trapped in some sort of nightmare and when I woke up tomorrow, none of this would be real.
“Okay.” He leaned over and kissed me. “I love you.”
How could I tell him that I loved him when right now I felt nothing but hatred for him?
“I love you,” I quickly spoke and turned on my side away from him.
He walked out of the room and Coco Chanel followed him. I closed my eyes as the tears started to fall.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Wyatt
I put the plates in the dishwasher and then placed my hands on the counter. Something was wrong with her and I was concerned. She wasn’t acting like herself. I was really bothered by the fact that she didn’t tell me that Craig and Maddy had the baby and used my meeting as an excuse. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I stepped into my office and sent Jamieson a text message.
“Hey, can you call me when you get a chance?”
A moment later, my phone rang.
“Hello, Jamieson.”
“Hey, Wyatt. What’s up?”
“I’m a little concerned about Laurel. She’s acting really strange today.”
“Strange how?”
“She’s moody, has an attitude towards me, and she was saying she had a bad headache.”
“Did she overdo it today?”
“I know she went into the office for a half a day and then she went shopping. She’s been forgetting things, which I know she told you about.”
“She did. It sounds to me like she might have overdone it today. The headache is probably from her being tired and stressed out about not being able to remember certain things. It’s frustrating for the person going through it. I did assure her, though, that it will get better with time. I also told her that she’s very lucky the tumor was on her right side. Because if it had been on the left, the chances for her to ever get her short-term memory back would be very slim.”
“Interesting. I didn’t know that.”
“Just be there for her. But also, listen to her. If she wants her space, give it to her. What she’s going through right now is hard. The brain needs time to heal itself and reorganize its intake and storage process. Like I told her, this is only temporary.”
“Thanks, Jamieson. I appreciate you calling me.”
“You’re welcome, Wyatt. Just be patient with her.”
“I have been, and I will be.”
I ended the call and went upstairs. After changing into my pajama bottoms, I climbed into bed and wrapped my arms around her. I trusted everything Jamieson said, but I still couldn’t help but worry about her.
****
Laurel
I woke up with the same feeling I had as when I went to sleep. How was I going to deal with this? The alarm went off and Wyatt reached over and shut it down then wrapped his arms around me.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed my shoulder.
Do you call her beautiful?
“Morning,” I spoke but stayed turned on my side not facing him.
“How are you feeling?”
Like shit. Like total shit because of you.
“Okay,” I spoke in a flat tone.
He sighed, climbed out of bed, and went into the bathroom. I walked down to the kitchen, popped a k-cup in the Keurig, and pressed the button. Coco Chanel was meowing, and when I looked over, I saw her food bowl was empty.
“Here’s your breakfast, you sweet girl,” I spoke as I poured food into her bowl.
Grabbing my cup of freshly brewed coffee, I took it upstairs and waited for Wyatt to get out of the shower.
“You could have joined me,” he spoke
as he wrapped the towel around his waist.
You didn’t get enough sex with her yesterday?
“I didn’t feel like it.”
“Okay. Well, there’s plenty of hot water. What are your plans for today?”
“I’m going into the office,” I replied in a smug tone. “What are your plans for today?”
“I have back to back meetings all day and contracts that need to be reviewed and signed.”
I bet you have meetings all day.
I stepped into the shower and made sure I took extra-long, so by time I finished, he’d be out of the bathroom. I hated this so much. While I was applying my makeup, Wyatt had just finished putting on his shoes.
“I have to go, sweetheart. Ryan can drive you in.”
“I’ll take a cab. It’s fine.”
“Okay.” He leaned in and kissed my lips. “I love you.”
I hate you.
“I love you,” I spoke deadpan.
After he left, I went down to his office and started searching it, trying to find any evidence of who that woman he was with was. Nothing. Damn it. I walked into the kitchen and saw his phone lying on the island. Today was my lucky day. I picked it up and typed in his passcode. A message popped up “Wrong passcode.” What the fuck? He changed it. I heard the elevator doors open, so I quickly set it down and took my coffee cup to the sink and washed it out.
“I left my phone,” he spoke.
“I saw that. I was going to bring it to you.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. Luckily, I remembered before Ryan pulled away. I’ll talk to you later.”
Yeah. We’ll be talking alright.
“Okay.”
“By the way, call Jamieson and ask him if you can fly yet. We can rent a private jet and head out to Los Angeles this weekend to see the baby.”
“Sure.”
I arrived at the office and immediately went to see George.
“How did it go last night? I thought I would have heard from you.”
“I’m sorry. I went to bed really early. Nothing happened except for me being a total bitch. God, George. I hate this. If he wants to be with someone else, then he just needs to tell me. I refuse to be cheated on.”
“Laurel, I still think you’re jumping to conclusions.”
“Hold on a second.” I pulled out my phone and called Wyatt’s secretary Tamara.
“Good morning, Wyatt Coleman’s office. This is Tamara. How may I help you?”
“Tamara, it’s Laurel.”
“Hi, Laurel. How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing okay. Listen, I want to surprise Wyatt today with a beautiful lunch, but he told me he was in back to back meetings all day. Is there any time frame in which I can come there and have lunch with him?”
“Hold on, let me check his schedule. No, today is totally booked for him. He’s in a meeting now and then he has another scheduled right after. After that meeting, he has another one out of the building, and then when he returns, he’s in meetings the rest of the day.”
“What time is his one out of the building?”
“That one is at twelve thirty, so he’ll be leaving here around noon.”
“Damn it. Okay. Thank you. Please don’t tell him I called. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I’m going to surprise him another day.”
“I won’t say a word.”
“Thanks. Have a good day.”
I ended the call and looked at George.
“Me and you are going to lunch together today.”
His eye narrowed. “I’m not sure I’m going to like where we’re going.”
“We’re going to follow Wyatt from his office and see where his twelve thirty meeting is.”
“I figured as much.” He sighed.
It was eleven thirty when George and I left the building and hailed a cab to Wyatt’s office.
“Are you getting out?” the cab driver asked.
“No. We’re going to wait here until someone leaves the building and then we’re going to follow him and see where he’s going.”
“Are you serious, lady?”
“Very serious. And what do you care? The meter is running and you’re making money for sitting here and doing nothing.”
A few moments later, the limo pulled up to the curb, and George and I ducked down. Wyatt exited the building and climbed in.
“Follow that limo but keep your distance. Do not let him see you,” I spoke to the cab driver.
My heart started racing the moment I saw the Ryan pull up to the curb of the Whitby Hotel.
“What the fuck is this? A daily thing?” I spewed.
Wyatt got out, buttoned his suitcoat, and walked inside the hotel.
“Now what?” The cab driver asked.
“I’m going in,” I spoke to George.
“Laurel, no. Just wait out here.”
“I can’t.”
I opened the door and walked inside the hotel.
“You again?” the concierge asked.
“Yes. This will be the last time. I promise.” I gave him a sympathetic look.
“Fine.” He waved his hand for me to take my place as I did yesterday.
Thirty minutes later and the concierge told me that Wyatt had just stepped off the elevator. I peeked around the corner of the desk and he was alone. As soon as he walked out of the hotel, I stood up.
“Thanks,” I spoke to the concierge. “It won’t happen again.”
The elevator dinged and the blonde woman who was with Wyatt yesterday stepped out, and instantly, the sickness I already felt inside intensified. I walked out of the hotel and climbed into the cab. George grabbed my hand and didn’t say a word.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Laurel
I paced around the living room, waiting for Wyatt to get home. I couldn’t do this anymore. I needed to confront him. It was causing me too much pain. The elevator door opened, and Wyatt stepped out.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?” He walked over and kissed me.
“It was okay,” I spoke with a smug tone.
This was it. It was now or never, so I took in a deep breath and prepared myself.
“Wyatt, there’s something I need to ask you.”
“Okay. What is it?” He asked as he took off his suitcoat.
“Are you cheating on me?”
“What?” He cocked his head. “Of course not. Where the hell did that come from?”
“I saw you at the Whitby Hotel yesterday with some blonde woman. So, don’t you dare stand there and lie to my face,” I spoke in a harsh tone as I pointed at him.
“Why were you at the Whitby?” he asked as he narrowed his eye at me.
“I went there for afternoon tea after I had lunch with George.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes, by myself! Then I followed you back there today. Who is she, Wyatt?” Tears formed in my eyes.
“You followed me there? Are you serious?”
He took in a sharp breath and I could see the anger rising in his face.
“Who is she?!”
“She’s someone I’ve known for a long time. She’s a friend and so is her husband, who was also at the hotel. Damn it, Laurel.”
He paced around the living room rubbing the back of his neck.
“I was going to surprise you, but you’ve gone and ruined that. She sells horses and I bought you one. Your very own to keep at the ranch. That’s why I met her and HER husband at the hotel. They were in town for a few days and it worked out in my favor. I was going to wait until the wedding and give it to you as a wedding gift, but with everything you’ve been through the past few months, I thought it would be nice to do it now.”
“Oh.” I stood there like a complete and total idiot. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I looked down in humiliation.
“No, of course you didn’t. And instead of asking me, you just assumed I was having an affair. Typical Laurel.”
“Wyatt, I’m—”
“Save it. Do y
ou have any idea how bad my heart is broken right now?” he shouted.
“I’m sorry.” I walked up to him and grabbed his hand.
He instantly pulled away.
“Don’t, Laurel. Every time I try to surprise you with something, you end up accusing me of cheating. Just like at the ballet that night, and then in the restaurant when you were with Bella, and now.”
“Then maybe you should stop trying to surprise me, because I always seem to find you with other women and assume the worst.”
“Exactly. You assume instead of just asking me. Damn it, I can’t believe you. You know what really hurts the most? The fact that the woman I’m so madly in love with and is supposed to feel the same way about me thinks that I could just go out and cheat on her. Obviously, everything I’ve said to you since the day we met hasn’t sunk into that thick skull of yours!”
“I do love you. That’s why I get like that. I’m scared of losing you!”
“If you’re that scared of losing me, then you mustn’t truly believe how much I love you.”
“You’re wrong. I do know.”
“If you did, you would have just simply asked. But you let your own insecurities get in the way.”
“You want to know the truth, Wyatt? I jumped to that conclusion because of these past few months and everything I put you through. The heartache, the pain, the worry. I thought maybe you found comfort with someone else because I’ve been such a fucking burden.”
“Oh no you don’t. You are not going to stand there and play the fucking victim this time. I was all in. I told you time and time again that you’re the only woman in the world for me. I stood by you through everything. I took care of you and I loved you. And this is how you repay me? By accusing me of cheating on you?”
“I’m sorry, Wyatt. Please.”
“I need some space, Laurel. I really need to think about some things, so I think it’s best if we took a break for a while.”
“Wyatt, no! My god, I’ll do anything. Please forgive me.”
“I’ll stay at a hotel. You can stay here.”
“Oh my god, you’re serious.” I started to tremble.
“Damn right I am.” He began to walk away. “I just can’t be near you right now.”