Forever Is Not Enough

by E. L. Todd

An offended look came into her eyes. “I just wanted—”

  “I don’t care. Go.” I kept playing a game on my phone.

  “You’re a dick,” she said savagely.

  “Yeah, I know.” I waved her off. “Now bye-bye.”

  She hissed under her breath and walked out. “Fucking asshole…”

  I was playing Scrabble with Cayson through our phones—and he was kicking my ass. That stupid genius.

  Razor leaned over the counter. “You have the worst customer service in the world.”

  “I ink for a living. What do you expect?”

  “To welcome customers, not shoo them away.”

  “She wasn’t a customer.” I shook my head.

  “I think she was.”

  “I don’t.” I kept playing on my phone. “I saw her the other day at the pizza place next door. She must have watched me walk in here and summoned the courage to make a move.”

  “Well, you could have let her down easy.”

  “No.” I didn’t feel bad about it. “I’m married and I don’t give a damn about hurting any girl’s feelings other than my wife’s.”

  Razor rolled his eyes. “Dude, you’re so different now.”

  I shrugged. “Marriage changes people.”

  “But you’re boring now.”

  “I may be boring but at least I’m happy.” Cayson won the game so I quit playing. I checked the time. “I’ve got to go.”

  “You leave early every day.”

  “You just said I chase the customers away.” I walked around the corner and headed to the door.

  “Where do you go every day?”

  “Pick up my wife.”

  “Is she a child?” he demanded. “She can’t remember how to get home?”

  I shot him a glare. “Insult me all you want but don’t insult my wife. If you do it again, you can find another job.”

  ***

  Her office was empty and lifeless. Everything had been moved except her desk. It was the last thing to go.

  “Last day here?” I asked as I walked inside.

  “Yep.” She packed her things and released a sigh. “I’m excited. It’s closer to home and the building is a lot nicer.”

  “And it’s closer to me.” I leaned over the desk and kissed her.

  She returned the embrace with a small amount of tongue then pulled away.

  “You can’t do that,” I barked.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  “You can’t kiss me like that then brush it off.”

  She chuckled. “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you really?”

  She pressed her lips together as she considered it. “I guess not.”

  I came around the desk then quickly tickled her. “I’ll get you back for that.”

  She laughed and moved away from my hands. “Okay, I’m sorry. I really am this time.” She clutched her chest and caught her breath.

  “Okay. I believe you.” Last time I was in here some annoying suit insulted me. He looked me up and down like there was no possibility I was married to Trinity. He was polite and sophisticated, and it irritated me that he was good-looking. I didn’t like seeing them speak together alone in her office.

  But I held my tongue.

  I trusted Trinity and she trusted me. There was no reason to be jealous. Jealousy was something I struggled with because it was hard for me to understand. I’d never cared about a woman enough to give a damn about who else was interested in her. But with Trinity, the love of my life, I really struggled with it. She was so beautiful and sexy. Everyone wanted her. I had to remind myself I was the only guy she wanted to go home too. But that didn’t make it any easier.

  But Sean told me I needed to let it go. Jealousy was a turn off, and sometimes it led to worse problems in a marriage. Unless I had strong evidence that Trinity was being harassed or if she really enjoyed the attention she was getting I should let it go. Since Sean was considered the perfect husband, I decided to listen to him.

  “Everything alright?” Trinity asked.

  I just realized I’d been silent for over a minute. “Oh yeah…just thinking about work stuff. Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  She was never hungry. “You want to get a sandwich? I didn’t have a chance to go to the grocery store today so we’re out of food. We don’t even have beer.”

  “No beer?” She dramatically clutched her chest and gasped. “Oh no, what will we do?”

  I raised my hands and wiggled my fingers. “You want to be tickled again?”

  She shut her mouth.

  “That’s what I thought.” I grabbed her big purse that held her laptop and papers and put it over my shoulder. “Let’s go, baby.” I grabbed her hand and guided her from the building.

  ***

  We ate our food quietly, and Trinity picked at her sandwich. She got a vegetarian one with cucumbers and cheese. She reminded me of a rabbit, only eating produce and eating very little of it. I used to pester her about her unhealthy eating habits but it never led to anything. She naturally didn’t have much of an appetite.

  “How was your day?” I asked.

  “Busy,” she said. “The company is growing quicker than I can keep up.”

  “Good,” I said. “You’ve been working hard and you deserve that success.”

  She gave me a smile.

  I stopped complaining about her working all the time. I knew this company was important to her. Therefore, it was important to me. Besides, she spent all of her free time with me so I couldn’t complain.

  “How was yours?”

  I decided not to tell her about the girl who made a move. If I told her about every girl who hit on me, it would take me a lifetime to name off each one. “Good. The shop was hopping.”

  “So much for opening a second shop,” she said with a laugh. “I thought the whole purpose of that was to make each store less busy.”

  I shrugged. “My dad’s plan backfired.”

  “You like running the business? Or do you miss inking?”

  “I definitely miss it,” I said. “I try to fill in a few times a day but then I get behind on my regular duties, which means I have to work longer. It’s easier if I just stay behind the desk.”

  “Maybe you can hire someone to run the shop so you can ink.”

  “I don’t trust anyone else,” I said frankly. “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

  She picked at her food and took a small bite. “I guess that’s true. But when things get running I’ll definitely allocate a lot of responsibilities to other people. I want to be around a lot when we have our kids.”

  Kids still fucking terrified me. But I hid my unease. If Arsen could do it, I could do it. I tried to remember that to make myself feel better. “True.”

  Trinity abandoned her food altogether. It didn’t seem like she even ate any of it.

  I stared at her across the table and watch the brightness of her eyes. I loved looking into them when I made love to her. And I loved looking into them at any other time of the day. She was a painting, a work of art. And I loved to stare at her.

  “What?” Trinity caught the look.

  I didn’t turn away. “You’re beautiful. I like to look at you.”

  Her cheeks reddened slightly and she looked down at her untouched food. “You’re sweet.”

  “No, I’m just in love.” I ate my chips and continued to watch her.

  “Trinity?” A guy’s voice came out of nowhere. I hadn’t noticed him because I was staring at my wife so intently.

  A man approached our table and stared at Trinity with wide eyes. It was clear he knew her.

  I didn’t recognize him at all. Maybe he was an employee of hers? Or maybe he knew her from Vogue?

  “Hey, Connor.” Trinity stood up and hugged him. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in forever.”

  Connor returned the hug, and it irritated me to see him touch her. “Great. How about you? Wow, you look so different no
w.”

  “I do?” she asked.

  “Yeah, you’re so tall and pretty. I mean, you were always tall and pretty but…you know what I mean.”

  Did this motherfucker just call my wife pretty? I gripped the edge of the table and didn’t say anything. Trinity would be so angry with me if I made a scene over something like that.

  God, how did Sean do this every day?

  “Oh thanks,” Trinity said as she brushed it off. “What are you doing these days?”

  “I’m a personal trainer at Crunch Fitness.”

  “Cool,” she said.

  “What do you do?”

  She faltered for a moment. “I work for a clothing company.”

  I wonder why she was hiding her success. But I wouldn’t question her in front of another person.

  “Cool,” he said. “You aren’t working for your dad?”

  “No,” she said. “It wasn’t for me.”

  When the fuck was she going to introduce me?

  “So…are you seeing anyone?” He gave her a hopeful look like he wished she were available.

  Okay…I had enough of this. I stood up and approached him. “I’m Slade—Trinity’s husband.” I extended my hand to shake his. I didn’t want to greet him like this. What I really wanted to do was punch him hard in the jaw for coming onto my wife. But I bottled it up and remained polite.

  “Oh…” Connor suddenly became uncomfortable. “Sorry, dude. I didn’t know. Hey, you’re Slade Sisco from high school. I remember you.”

  Well, I don’t remember you. “Yeah…it seems like another era now.”

  “I remembered you break-danced at prom,” Connor said. “It was sick.”

  “Yeah…” Now go away.

  Connor got the hint. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Trinity.”

  “You too,” she said.

  He nodded then walked away.

  I took a deep breath and bottled my anger. Now it was over and I could let it go. I got through it without throwing a punch. I was proud of myself.

  But seriously, how did Sean do this all the time?

  Trinity watched me warily like she couldn’t believe how calm I was.

  “So, how do you know Connor?”

  “From high school,” she said. “We went to junior prom together.”

  Something snapped inside me. A long time ago, Trinity told me how she lost her virginity. It was in the back of a limo after prom. The guy never called her again and pretended she hadn’t existed. He used her and made her cry. Her first time was heartbreaking and painful.

  My anger increased by tenfold. “He took your virginity?” My voice was full of menace.

  Fear and surprise came into her eyes. She clearly had forgotten that she told me that story. “Yeah…it was a long time ago.” She ate a chip just so she had something to do.

  I wasn’t jealous that Trinity slept with other guys. I wasn’t that immature. I’d been with too many women to count and it wouldn’t be fair for me to get upset over it. But the fact this fucker used her and made her cry was unacceptable to me. Then he had the audacity to come up to her and speak to her like they were old friends?

  Sorry, Sean. I can’t keep this one back.

  I left the booth and stormed out of the deli. Trinity’s voice came behind me but I didn’t hear it because I tuned it out. I checked the sidewalk left and right and spotted Connor walking away. His blonde hair and broad shoulders were easy to find.

  I marched to him then gripped him by the back of the neck.

  “What the fuck—”

  I dragged him into the alleyway then threw him behind a dumpster.

  Once he understood what was going on, he fought back. He was bigger than I was, having a large build, but I was quicker. “You motherfucker.” I slammed my fist hard against his face and broke his nose. “Piece of shit.”

  Connor tried to get to his feet but I kicked him hard in the ribs. He groaned and pulled his knees to his chest for protection. “What the fuck is your problem? I didn’t know she was married, okay?”

  I gripped the front of his shirt and pulled his face toward mine. “Junior prom. That’s my problem.”

  Guilt came over his face. “Dude, I was young and stupid—”

  I punched him in the jaw and shut him up. “You made her cry. Do you know that? And no one makes my wife cry.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry.” He tried to get away from me again.

  I grabbed him by the leg and yanked him across the gravel road. His shirt moved up and his bare skin scraped against the textured road. I pulled my fist back and punched him hard in the stomach.

  He made a loud groan. “Let me go!”

  “Slade, stop!” Trinity ran into the alleyway and gasped when she saw Connor. “Slade, let him go.”

  I grabbed a fist full of hair and dragged him to his knees. “Up, asshole.”

  Connor sat up and his face dripped with blood.

  “Apologize to her,” I commanded.

  “I’m sorry, Trinity,” he blurted.

  Trinity stared at him with pity. “It’s okay. I forgive you. Now let him go, Slade.”

  I kneed him hard in the back.

  He groaned again.

  “What are you sorry for?”

  “Slade, stop,” Trinity pleaded.

  “Not until he does this right,” I said. “Connor, try again.”

  “I’m sorry I slept with you and never called you again,” Connor said immediately.

  “Nope. Try again.” I punched him in the back of the head.

  “Fuck…” He immediately put his hand over it like that would help.

  “You only have one more shot,” I threatened. “If you don’t get this right, I will beat you until you can barely breathe. Then I’ll leave you behind this dumpster and let you bleed to death. Choose your words carefully.”

  Connor breathed hard as he tried to manage the pain. “Trinity, I’m sorry I only asked you to prom so I could sleep with you. All I wanted was to get laid, and obviously I thought you were hot and I wanted to land you. I’m sorry I took your virginity. I knew you were a virgin and I didn’t care. I still wanted it. I already knew I would never call you after I got what I wanted. I’m sorry I hurt you and made you cry. I’m an asshole and I deserve everything Slade just did to me.”

  I patted his shoulder. “Much better.” I stepped away from him.

  He looked up at me with fear in his eyes, like he wasn’t sure he was really off the hook or not.

  “Now run.”

  He didn’t need me to tell him twice. He set off at a dead run in the opposite direction.

  I watched him until he turned the corner. Then I approached Trinity, knowing she was going to be pissed off at me for what I’d done. What would Sean do? Would he let this guy walk away without any punishment? How would he have the strength to do that? That experience had scarred Trinity forever. She never felt loved a day in her life—until me.

  I looked her in the eye and couldn’t read her expression. “I’m not sorry for what I did. He deserved far worse. No one hurts my wife like that and gets away with it—even if you weren’t my wife at the time.” I lowered my gaze and walked around her because I knew she didn’t want to speak to me. She didn’t even want to look at me.

  Trinity grabbed my arm and steadied me. Then she pulled me toward her, a meaningful look in her eyes. Her hands moved to my cheeks then she rose on her tiptoes to kiss me.

  The kiss was gentle but it possessed so much love. We hardly moved our lips but we didn’t need to. Then she slowly pulled away, admiration in her eyes. “You’re the best husband in the world.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Arsen

  I couldn’t remember the last time I was this mad.

  Silke accused me of such terrible things, that I was lying to cover up a forbidden attraction. The trust she claimed to have for me wavered, and she saw lies that weren’t really there. Then she broke my heart and left me. All week I’d been thinking about her and how much I misse
d her. All I wanted to do was call her just to hear her voice. I wanted to sleep with her because I couldn’t even close my eyes when she wasn’t next to me.

  And then I saw her…with him.

  It was a beautiful day for a coffee date. They sat across from each other at the small table, sipping their espressos while they discussed whatever the fuck they discussed.

  I was sitting at home moping over her and she was out with her ex. She called him as soon as I was out of the picture.

  What. The. Fuck.

  My hands were shaking because I was so pissed off. Never had I been rendered speechless like that. I was so angry that I didn’t want to speak. And then when I did find something to say, I lied out of my ass. I told her I wanted to fuck Ms. Norris just to hurt her.

  I’ve never been so spiteful.

  But I didn’t feel bad about it. How could I after seeing her with him? He’d touched her, kissed her, and made love to her. I felt like I was in the past all over again. How would she feel if I met up with an old flame? Whether we were together or not was irrelevant.

  I didn’t even know her anymore.

  She tried calling me—a lot. I never answered. Eventually, I put the phone on silent because Abby kept asking who was calling me. I refused to bring my daughter in the middle of this so I pretended everything was fine.

  Silke never came to the apartment and I knew exactly why. Abby was always here, and there was no way we could talk about anything without screaming. It would put Abby in the middle, and I appreciated Silke’s consideration.

  But I was still pissed off.

  Abby and I just finished dinner and moved to the living room when there was a quiet knock on the door. It was late for a visitor so I checked the peephole before I opened it.

  It was Silke.

  I guess she wasn’t that considerate after all. “Sweetheart, I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay.” Her eyes were glued to the TV.

  I took a deep breath before I opened the door and stepped out. I quickly shut the door behind me and gave Silke a glare. “Not here. Not now.”

  Distant tears were in her eyes. It seemed like she’d been crying recently.

  I pitied her. But I didn’t at the same time.

  “I’m not here to yell. And I won’t raise my voice.”

  “It’s still not the time. Abby will wonder what I’m doing out here and I can’t put her in the middle of a fight. That girl has been through enough as it is. I won’t do it, Silke. Now leave.”