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“What’s wrong?Did someone make you mad? It wasn't me, was it?”
I smiled,patting his head.“Take your clothes off.”
“Huh?”He feigned shyness,eyes gleaming.“Like this?”
“Hurry up.”
We made love twice on the couch.
With different people,dynamics vary.With Paul,I’d never be so bold.
With Nathan,no mental barriers.
“I want more.”
After taking a shower, I hooked his boxers with my toe.
He laughed,pressing my foot back.“Behave.Your husband needs fuel.I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Nathan,you’re so weak.”
He raised a brow."That’s all you have to say?”
“Yep.That's all you're good for right now.”
After joking,I reheated dinner.He ate ravenously,praising his wise wife.
“Wife,what’s wrong?”
I couldn't bring myself to eat. He fed me a shrimp.
I chewed and spat it out.
Hearing about Mrs.Carter,he gripped my hand.“My friend’s mom studies Alzheimer’s.I’ll ask tomorrow.”
I interlaced our fingers,eyes stinging.
“You’d leave if I ignored you.You don’t love me that much—just lies.”
My accusation was unfair.I’d said cruel things to him.
He stood up and hugged me tightly. “It's my fault. I regret everything I did to hurt you.”
I cried.
Sarah moved into Mrs.Carter’s,claiming to care for her,making my visits awkward.
Friday afternoon,leaving school,I saw Mrs.Carter chatting with the security guard.She waved at me happily.
We ate cold noodles at the school gate.
I vented about entitled colleagues and difficult parents.She comforted me,and I cried.
Not over those trifles.
“It’s okay,”she soothed,patting my arm.“I’m fine.”
“Oh,heard you got married?Why didn’t you tell me?”
Just then, Nathan called. He had skipped a work event to pick me up but had missed me.
He arrived,eating my leftover noodles.
A natural talker,he kept Mrs.Carter laughing.
We drove her home.She handed me a box.“My gift to you two.”
Inside were ten gold bars.
“Teacher…”
“Or my dowry for you.”
“Visit often.”
That night, I had a nightmare that I lost the gold bars. I spent the dream searching the school field and classrooms, feeling more and more anxious as it got darker.
I woke,heart racing.Nathan crouched by the bed,watching,waiting for me to stir.
“Wife…”
