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

toast pops and I move to the toaster to collect it. I forgo buttering it and take a large bite of my over browned sourdough just so I don’t have to get into all of this with her.

“Well, do you have anything to say?” Ms. Gandy stomps her foot as I swallow down my piece of dry toast. “I’ll stay here all day and wait, you know.”

I toss my toast to the granite and smirk. “I’m guessing she forgot to mention we consummated our marriage yesterday.”

Ms. Gandy’s cheeks redden just as the screen door slams shut. June storms into the house, and I can feel the heat radiating off her as she stands beside Ms. Gandy. Her hair is up in a messy bun and she’s wearing those damn spandex pants that get my dick twitching. Even though I caught her sleeping, she still looks exhausted with the heavy bags under her eyes.

“Alex?” June says sternly, her jaw ticking.

"Ahh, if it isn’t my blushing bride.” I grab her hand and yank her to my chest to kiss her cheek, showing Ms. Gandy I have no qualms with her. "We were just talking about you."

"I heard." She wiggles out of my arms. "Don't mind me, I'm just going to get a drink and be out of your way."

She rushes to grab a diet orange soda and then heads back out the front door.

Ms. Gandy slaps me in the back of the head. "Alex, get your act together. She's still human and has feelings too."

My jaw ticks. "Why is everyone worried about her? Like I don’t have fucking feelings too?”

"Because, Alexander, look at her.” She stabs her finger out to the front porch. “Yes, you have gotten swallowed by your pain and I have no doubt you’re suffering, but for one second look at what your hate and anger has done to her. Really look at her and then tell me how you can’t worry or even care. When is the last time you’ve seen her eat? Seen her smile."

“Seen her sleep?"

She taps her temple. “Kathleen wouldn't want either of you like this. Hurting and suffering. She would want you happy and living.”

“Kathleen should be alive," I snarl.

"The thing is you won’t open your eyes and ears. A tragic thing happened, but you need to get on the other side of this tragedy and let good in and finally heal. And though you don’t want to believe it, June is the connection to all that."

"So, I’m just supposed to forgive her and pretend everything is okay? Kathleen is gone because of her stupidity. "

Ms. Gandy groans and shakes her head. “You are still as hardheaded as they come. You only want to hear what you want because it’s easier than digging for the correct answers."

“I have all the answers!” I growl firmly.

Ms. Gandy pinches her nose. “You might think that, but are you really sure?”

“Yes. I’m sure.” Even as I say the words, doubt fills me.

“Listen, Alex, do you want to live with all this anger burning inside of you? You’ve known June forever. Do you think for one second she caused what happened that night on purpose?”

“On purpose, no, but—"

“No buts. You’re going to end up losing her, and I don’t mean by leaving you and this house. She’s on the verge of crashing and burning with no one to catch her. And I think no matter how mad you are, you don’t want that.”

I fold my arms and clench my jaw, trying to fight the dread building in my chest. The thought of losing her and maybe having to bury her is haunting because even after I asked her to leave and hoped to never see her again, I always knew she was somewhere alive. I think back to her nightmare last night, hearing and seeing her in pain, and just seeing how exhausted she looked moments ago, and I feel small pieces of ice around my heart start defrosting.

“Just wise up and get your act together before I have to kick you in the butt. That is what I’m here for. To guide you two.”

“I’ll try. The last thing I want is for you to kick my ass.”

“I’m glad we have an understanding.” She smiles. “Now, I need to be going. Walk me out, will you, dear?” She wiggles her finger at me, and I walk over to put my hand on the small of her back to lead her out.

As we step outside, June stands from the swing, dropping her book to the side. "Ms. Gandy, are you leaving?" she asks.

"Yes, sweetie. I have to get home for my morning shows. Now I left you plenty of those chocolate chip chocolate balls you used to love." Ms. Gandy touches her cheek.

That’s when, for the first time, I notice how sunken in her cheeks look and how tiny she is altogether. I don’t know why I’m only seeing it now. She was naked in my arms yesterday.

"Eat them," Ms. Gandy says sternly and June chuckles softly.

"I will."

"I'll make sure of it," I say, causing them both to look at me. I have no idea where it came from. "I'm sure we can do something fun with them." I wink at June and she turns around and scoffs at me. Ms. Gandy looks at me mouthing for me to be nice. "What?" I mouth back.

I was being nice. I could find plenty of ways to feed them to her.

"June bug, if you need me, call me."

She nods. “I will. I promise.”

Ms. Gandy gives me one more pointed look before heading for her old pick up.

I stand beside June as we watch Ms. Gandy disappear down the dirt road. Once she has driven down the gravel road, June turns to me, glaring with