Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas (summer beach reads txt) 📗

close to me makes me feel nostalgic of all the good memories we had together and how I long to have them back.

My fingers trace over the image of my dad and mom, standing with Liz and her husband in front of the fireplace inside the house. All four looking so happy and oh so young. Way before Alex’s and my time. I miss them. Most of all, I miss my dad. His tight warm hugs and butterfly kisses.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alex glance down at this left hand where my dad’s tungsten band now sits. "Why did you give me your dad's ring?"

"Because he would have wanted you to have it. He loved you and enjoyed spending time with you when he was alive.”

Alex clears his throat roughly. “Yeah. He was a good man.” He doesn’t look at me and spins the ring on his finger. My dad would take Alex to basketball games and would always carve out one on one time with him whenever he could. I used to get so jealous of it when I was younger because I wanted all of my daddy’s attention. I felt pushed aside when my dad made extra time for him, but I grew out of it. My dad’s love was shareable, and Alex needed a father figure. If only my dad didn’t die so soon, maybe things would be different now.

“Yeah, my dad was a good man, and I know somewhere inside you is the good man that I used to admire."

His forehead wrinkles. "I'll give it back to you when this is over."

I close my eyes and slam the photo album shut. "I don't need it back, Alex. It's yours." I stand and shove the book back onto the bookshelf. The trip down memory lane has now turned to dust. “A gift.”

His mouth opens and closes, his eyes drifting away to look past me. Suddenly, his green irises haze darkly, and he goes stiff. I look behind me wondering what grabbed his attention, and it’s one of the many ghosts of the past that circle around us. A picture of me, Kathleen, and him on the wall. I’m about sixteen, kissing his cheek while he smiles goofily as Kathleen pirouettes next to us. My head drops and I know it’s time for me to make my exit before the hate spews from his lips once again.

"I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Alex."

I exit the room, off to bed, hoping for at least an hour before I get chased by demons.

6ALEX

 

“Nice digs,” Adrian says as I park the U-Haul in front of the farmhouse. Adrian works with me at Shay and West and was the first friend I made when I started at the company. We both started at the bottom and have been killing ourselves to make it to the top. The thing is, Adrian is where he wants to be as production manager and I’m still holding on to getting a final promotion to a partner level position. One I’ve been working my ass off for years. “So, this is where you grew up?”

“This is it.”

“I don’t see why you would ever leave.” He laughs. “Better than that little one room apartment you've been renting out.” I roll my eyes. My place isn't bad. Sure, it’s tiny, but how much does a single man need besides his bed.

“You know why. Plus, I had to grow up sometime.”

“You’re right. Now let’s hurry up and get your shit out so you can buy me those beers you owe me for helping you.”

We hop out of the moving truck and move to the back. I unlatch the levers and release the door to reveal the very little I own.

A bed, some clothes, a dresser—I don't even need, and some miscellaneous shit.

Everything sentimental to me is here.

“Bet you fished out there.” He points to the pond, where only days ago I was standing with June.

My wife. There’s a part of me that still feels as if I’m going to wake up from this and it’s all been some fucked up dream. I had to look away from the second she stepped out of the house in that lace wedding dress with Ms. Gandy because I was fucking drawn to her. I had visions of her in my bed, picturing what she would look like in her wedding lingerie, saying my name as I made her come around my cock. I knew that it could’ve been us for real, no one forcing our hands if she hadn’t fucked things up. I hated myself for even thinking about it. Thankfully, when the comment of commitment came up, it zapped me back to reality and helped me recall everything she destroyed. How she destroyed us. But that kiss—that fucking kiss almost twisted me back. Her warm, sweet lips—

“Alex, you alright man?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I shake my head and go to grab a box out of the U-haul.

Fuck, this girl is all in my head, driving me to distraction. Here I thought hating her and going on with my life would be easy.

“I ask you about fishing and you seemed to go somewhere else.”

“Yeah, sorry. No, we didn't. There's no fish in there.”

“Bummer.” Adrian grabs a box and we head towards the house to my room. “This room reminds me of this guy I dated in…high school.” Adrian laughs as he puts down his box on my bed.

“So, it might need an update.”

“Unless you’re into attracting the very much younger crowd.”

“Shut up.”

"Hey.” June appears out of nowhere in my door frame, wearing a gray sports bra and matching tight grey leggings. Her hair is slightly damp and up in a messy bun. “Do you want some help?” She wasn’t supposed to be here. She