It had been over an hour, so I was expecting Ax back any minute now. The Hilton was only about ten minutes away, but maybe he’d gotten stuck in traffic. I tightened my robe to hide what was underneath, thinking I would let him unwrap me like a present when we got done eating. He was going to go nuts for this frilly, lacy outfit.

My feet were achy from work today, so I propped them up on a pillow as I laid back on the couch and closed my eyes. I dozed off, and when I opened them again, I checked my phone to find that another hour had passed. Where the hell is Axel?

Worried, I sent him a text asking if he was okay, and he replied ten minutes later that he was sorry. Milan wanted to “talk about things,” so they ordered Chinese. I stared at my phone disbelievingly before glancing over at the dinner I had ordered for us. Then I looked down at how I was dressed. For him. What a fucking idiot I was.

I stomped up the stairs, leaving the dim lights on and the food on the table so he would be sure to see it. I had a little session with BOB, the purple vibrator, and left that and the new lingerie on his pillow. And no, I didn’t clean the vibrator first. Virtual middle finger to you and your baby mama, Mr. Broxton. I changed back into my comfortable, baggy clothes and climbed under the covers.

I heard him come home an hour and a half later, and I concentrated on regulating my breathing so I could fake being asleep. I had no desire to speak to him right now. Actually, that wasn’t entirely honest. I had the desire to yell the damned house down, but I didn’t have the energy. I heard him sigh when he found my pillow presents, and then he climbed into bed and turned over with his back to me.

Goodnight, asshole.

41. Blaire

Blaire

I woke up and left for work before Axel got up the next morning because I had an early surgery. Work was going really well, which was good since my personal life seemed to be in the shitter right then.

That afternoon, I picked Carrie up from preschool, and we went home and started dinner. She helped me make meatballs, and I put them in the oven to cook as I boiled water for the pasta and made the spaghetti sauce. I had her setting the table when I heard Ax come in the front door.