A Michelin-starred restaurant was only nice? The French Riviera was just nice? My sole goal during the months we’d dated and been engaged was to secure her wedding vows, to tie her to me. I’d wined and dined her and swept her off her feet…only to learn years later that she’d rather have had her feet on the floor in comfortable shoes and Golden Arches over her head.

I’d planned a campaign to romance a wife, and I’d assumed I’d done a good enough job.

“What do you want?” Had I ever asked her that, not just in relation to food or eating out, but about anything? Or had I been too afraid I wouldn’t be able to give it to her?

Pushing her glasses up, she thought. “I’d rather order in a burger and sit in my pajamas and eat while watching a show.”

She spoke like she’d done that before, but we hadn’t done that before. This was what my wife wanted. Just to be with me. To be comfortable with me. Did I know how to give that to her?

Kate

The final workshop of the day dragged on. I was taking notes on ways to market the library’s services to those who needed them the most and trying to keep my mind off the last two nights.

I’d managed to avoid Hailey since her blatant flirtation with my husband. She’d latched on to a young assistant library director from Massachusetts with a wife and kid number two on the way. Poor guy looked like he wanted to vomit each time Hailey appeared at his side.

Finally, the speaker wrapped up and I scribbled down her contact information for my boss. My friend and old college buddy Bisa leaned over. “Is that your hubby who’s dropping jaws every morning in the gym?”

I didn’t bother to downplay his effect on people. I was more susceptible than anyone. “That’s him.”

Bisa chuckled. “I swear there were twice as many women in the gym this morning versus Friday morning.”

“Only one reason I don’t work out with him.” Aiden pounded himself to the ground in the gym. When he worked out, his focus was as complete as with any other task. He might not notice my boob sweat and the low mph on my treadmill, but I noticed it enough for the both of us.

She nudged me with her elbow. “You get to do all the other fun stuff with him.”

I smiled, but my body reminded me that I had not done any fun stuff with Aiden for weeks. I hadn’t thought I was a woman with a high sex drive until I’d quit getting it on a regular basis. A portion of my body’s blood kept my nether region stoked and flared every time Aiden was in view.