Just like that, guilt consumes me because she’s right.

She’s shown me nothing but love and respect for our marriage.

An apology is on the tip of my tongue as she says, “Either way. We have a couple weeks together before the wedding, and it might be best if we lay down some ground rules so we don’t get in each other’s way.”

“Ground rules?” I ask. “Removing all the food from the fridge is your idea of ground rules?”

“It’s food that I bought. Therefore, I believe it should be in my fridge. Also, if you noticed, the food in the pantry with the pink Post-it notes on them is mine. It’s simple roommate protocol.”

Oh hell. I move toward the pantry, switch on the light, and lo and behold, the shelves are covered in food with pink Post-it notes . . . even the baking flour.

And then her words hit me. Roommates?

I swing back around to look at her. “Roommates? I don’t think so, Myla. You’re still my wife.”

She toes the ground, her confidence slipping in and out, and I can’t quite pinpoint where her head is right now. Is this her way of getting back at me for last night? What is this wall she’s erecting between us?

“Titles shouldn’t mean much at this point, Ryot.”

They mean something to me.

I exit the pantry, frustration starting to have a chokehold on me. “That’s fine. I’ll just order food.” I grab my phone and open my DoorDash app, but it’s asking me to sign in. “What’s the username and password?”

“I changed that last night.”

My eyes lift, and my brow raises in question. “What do you mean you changed it?”

“Well, it was my account, so I changed the password. You’ll have to create your own account if you want to order food.”

My nostrils flare, and I set my phone down. “Fine, I’ll just have yogurt.”

“Yeah, that’s expired,” she says just as I open the fridge. I grip the handle tightly and turn toward her.

“So is there no food in the house for me to eat?”

“Afraid not. But the store is open, so feel free to go shop for yourself. You know what a grocery store is, right?”

“Is this how it’s going to be, Myla?” I ask, irritation creeping up the back of my neck.

Once again, she toes the ground. “Just trying to keep things neutral, so there are no misunderstandings.”

Her words and actions scream “this is war,” but her body language tells me she’s hesitant to even be around me.

I should have known this wouldn’t be easy. I just didn’t think she’d take it to this level.

“Was this Nichole’s idea?” I ask.

“She has nothing to do with this, so leave her out of it. I just want to make things fair, Ryot. You made that quite clear last night with your abuse of orgasms.”

“All because I didn’t want my wife fucking another man?” I ask. “Fucking sue me.”