Falling For My Husband: Again

Chapter 15

♣ Henry Smith ♣

“So, how's your marriage going?” Derrick asked, throwing a handful of chips in his mouth.

I shrugged, reaching for the glass of wine on the table, “she wants a divorce,” then took a sip as I watched my friend choke on his chips.

“Who chokes on chips?” The question was a means to avoid the unavoidable further discussion.

“She wants a divorce?!” His brows were drawn together as he reached for a glass of water, gulping in half its content.

“Yep.”

“What the heck? How the f**k did you make her want a divorce, man?!” He dropped the glass back on the table, glaring hard at me.

“I don't know, she's probably just tired of the marriage,” and I probably never gave her a reason to not ask for a divorce.

“She loved you a lot man,” he reminded me of the obvious, “she was literally drooling over you for five f*****g years, and in just a year, you made her want a divorce!”

“I know, it's just—” my fault. It's all my fault, “I'm just busy, you know?”

That wasn't a smart excuse. It was evident from his eye roll and sarcastic, “yeah, too busy to even acknowledge your wife's presence.”

I sighed, burying myself deeper into his couch. “It's not my fault work demands my total attention.”

“f**k off with your f*****g excuse!” He was obviously really annoyed about this divorce. “Work demands my attention also, but you don't see me ignoring Anna or making her want to break up with me.”

I took another sip of the wine, “it's my fault, I know.”

“Obviously.” He sounded like that was certain, and we should move on to the next thing. “So what're you going to do? It took you five years to finally let this girl know you like her. Where on earth will you find love again?”

I groaned, dropping the glass of wine so I could lean into the couch.

He was right. I liked Marie for six good years.

When she moved to my neighborhood, I'd fallen in love with her at first sight.

That night was one I couldn't forget.

It was raining, and while I was with my umbrella, she was running without one, seeming in a rush to escape the rain.

When my gaze landed on her, all breath seized and my feet just stayed glued to the ground.

I was surprised at the beauty in front of me.

But she didn't notice me because of her haste, but when she brushed past me, I caught a whiff of her scent and— although mixed with rain scent— she was magnificent.

That was a smell that wouldn't leave my brain ever.

It was the only scent I could think of while sleeping. Nothing else seemed to be able to top it.

And so the next morning (and a sleepless night of thinking about her), I caught her among my always waiting fans whenever I was driving to work.

I had almost had an accident with how my eyes refused to leave her the entire time I drove.

Just knowing she was a fan felt weird, because from that day on, I was a huge fan of hers.

Whether I went to work or not, I'd pass that road just to see her again.

Anything to keep my mind at ease.

Knowing she was nearby just made things feel better.

I'd tell Derrick about my feelings, and every day, he'd advise me to walk up to her, but I've never been one good at expressing my feelings, so I'd thought it'd die.

Oh, but it didn't.

In fact, five years later, it became stronger and I figured I couldn't do without her.

Until the road I always passed was to be blocked soon, which meant no seeing her everyday again.

Derrick, knowing I might never fall for someone again, pleaded with me to just meet her and maybe ask for her number.

He let me know how miserable I'd be if I found out she got married.

And that thought made me shiver enough to actually do as he'd said.

That fateful day, I'd just wanted to drive past them as usual, before reminding myself that was the last time I'd ever see her.

And so with much more effort than needed, I'd stopped the car, got out of it and headed to where she and her friends (and many others) stood, squeaking and filming and squealing even more.

Derrick had told me to just ask for her number, but as I said, I'm not the emotional type, so I'd done what I felt right.

I'd pulled her by the waist and asked if she'd marry me.

Surprisingly, and thankfully, she'd said yes.

Believe me when I say, that day was the best of my life.

Nothing to top it.

I couldn't wait to have her as my wife, and so the next week, we were in Louisiana, exchanging vows.

Derrick was surprised by my approach, but equally excited that it'd worked and I was getting married.

He was one happy best man at my wedding.

But then, after the marriage, that was all.

Nothing happened again because I wasn't sure what to do next.

For the first few months, she still seemed to like me, but I couldn't express my feelings in action.

Instead, I buried it deep down and tried to ensure she didn't know how I felt.

It just felt weird.

I'd thought that as long as we were married, we were going to be together forever.

Till she asked for a divorce…

That was the worst day for me.

I didn't want to sign the papers, nor did I want her to take it to court.

So I'd told her I had some process to take care of before the divorce and bla bla.

But truthfully, I just wanted an extra year with her.

I hadn't taken her to the dinner party because of any process, but because I wanted to be close to her.

I wanted to kiss her…

“So what was your reply to the divorce?” Disappointment was far too evident in Derrick's tone.

“I told her to wait a year so I can ensure my social status doesn't have a wreck or whatever.”

“And she agreed?”

“Yeah, but she seems to want the divorce sooner.” I wondered why she was so eager to get a divorce.

“So what do you plan on doing this one year you've agreed on?” He asked, his eyes lit with hope.

I shrugged, unsure what I was supposed to do, “I just said a year so I'll have a year to have her by my side.”

Which was also why I'd asked her to tag along on the business trip.

I just had one year to be with her, I was going to cherish every second, so that once she's gone, I'll have some memories of her to hold on to.

“You nitwit,” he shook his head, “you've been such a f****d up husband, and you were given a second chance and you don't want to do anything about it.”

I pulled my brows in confusion, “what am I supposed to do?”

“This girl loved you enough to marry you without knowing a thing about you,” he started, taking another mouthful of chips, “I'm sure there might still be a teeny bit of that love, try to make her fall for you again.”

No matter how much I wanted to do that, “you know how terrible I am at expressing my feelings.”

“Well, you choose,” he said through a mouthful of chips, “you want to just spend this one year with her and let her go because of your stupidity then never fall in love again,”

“Or you want to get her as your forever and live happily ever after with her,” he made it round really easy. “Choose man.”

“But it isn't going to be easy.” I stated my thoughts.

“Then make it easy.” He groaned a little. “Make sure she falls in love again.”

Oh, okay…