The Second Wife by Melinda Mulera (book club reads .txt) 📗

"I can't tell you-"

"Please, Iris. Even if the results are out, you'll not be happy enough." He begged, now slightly stroking my thighs. "I want to know. I promised I wouldn't get mad."

"Okay..." I wiped a tear as I glanced down at his hands on my thighs, finding it hard to say. "I think Hazel has the advantage."

"I didn't mean on pregna-"

"Yes, I mean on everything." I bit my lower lip when his face paled.

"W-Why him?" He stammered. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked as his grip tightened.

"Hazel's really responsible, I like that about him. He's... Well he's composed and seems really mature enough to be a dad. I just feel like I can trust an entire family with him." I smiled slightly at the thought. Hazel without a doubt would be an amazing father. I was sure about that. He was just really determined for it. "While you..." I trailed off when he looked away, as though he was about to cry. "I won't say if you don't want me to."

"Just say it. I promised I wouldn't be mad, remember?" He forced an airy chuckle that seemed dry and painful.

"Well." I cleared my throat, getting ready to say it and not hold back. I loved Avery, maybe slightly more than Hazel, but he wasn't the kind to look after a family. "I love you, Avery, maybe more than Hazel, but... I hate to admit that I'm scared of being serious with you.... I feel like I'll be the wife that waits in the lounge at midnight for her husband to come home, wondering where he was." I bit onto my lower lip when he clenched his jaw, his eyes hardly meeting mine. "You don't seem like you're the type to want children around. So I'm a bit scared... About that. I'm sorry." I whispered out as he furrowed his brows without even glancing at me.

"I know I'm not responsible, but I can be if I have to be." He said inaudibly, luckily I could hear. "I can... I can be that man for you, I promise."

"You can't pretend to be someone you're not, Avery." I chuckled forcedly as I reached up and stroked his cheek.

"But you have to know I won't cheat on you. I swear." He begged, grabbing my arms and I could see his red eyes and the tears blurring them. "Don't give up on me... Please. Iris, I really love you." The look... The pleading look in his eyes almost made me feel guilty for saying it, but he made me say it against my will. He wanted to know. Now he did. He might even give up....

"I won't give up on you." I smiled, reaching up to his head and bringing him down to my chest, since he looked like he was bound to cry. "Don't try to change yourself just because I said so, because even though I saw all those flaws in you, I still fell in love with you. I'm still in love with you, despite it all."

"Fvck...." He whispered out as he wrapped his arms around my waist while his face still remained buried in my chest. "I think I'm going to cry...."

"No one's stopping you, Avery." I smiled as I patted his head softly. Petting his hair to assure him it's okay.

It wasn't long until he began to sob silently into my chest while squeezing his hold on me.

He seemed to be the one mostly affected in this than Hazel and I. He was carrying most of the weight.

I guess he really loves me to the point it hurts.

I continued to pet his hair as I gently rocked us side to side, softly enough not to throw us over. I glanced towards the door when a shadowy figure caught my attention from underneath my lashes. It was Hazel. He seems quiet and somewhat looking pitiful as his eyes fell on Avery's back. I guess he must have heard it all. His eyes met mine and we both frowned at each other.

Somehow, we both knew we were the ones hurting Avery more than ourselves to the point we made him cry.

Hazel must have never seen Avery cry before. They had been spending their lives beating each other up that they never showed each other their vulnerable moment. Hazel, on the other had, wasn't afraid to show his vulnerable side when he needed to.

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Awwww..... Avery.....

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