Marriage for One

Он не был тем, о чем я мечтала, и даже не был тем, чего я хотела для себя, но он был совершенен и уже был моим, по-настоящему моим. В этом у меня не было никаких сомнений.

Жизнь всегда идет вперед, независимо от того, хочешь ли ты двигаться вместе с ней или оставаться на месте и позволять ей происходить вокруг тебя, но я не хотел делать этого без нее.

“I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped, but didn’t look at him. “You’re my home,” he finished.”

Неудивительно, что я с самого начала считала его цементным блоком — он не только не показывал своих эмоций, но и не понимал их, даже когда они били его по лицу.

“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”

Having a heart-to-heart conversation with my wife under the night sky was absolutely not the best way to keep my distance.

“What else is on your mind?” I asked, genuinely curious, her enthusiasm catching.

She smiled up at me. “I think I’m gonna keep the rest to myself, just in case I screw it up or can’t get it done in time.”

“Sounds like you have everything planned and under control.”

“I don’t frown.” He frowned as he said it.

“Ah, aren’t you gonna…”

He met my eyes. “Am I gonna…what?”

I was an idiot. “Your sleeves…you always roll them up.” I was a gigantic idiot, but…it was always one of the highlights of my day, so why should I have to suffer just because he forgot about it? It was my daily forearm porn, and I had started to look forward to it.

“It’s beautiful,” Jack said softly. It was soft enough that it got my attention, and I noticed his eyes were on me, not the flowers.

Why did I always feel so safe when he was near me?

“Rose.” Jack interrupted my thoughts and I glanced at him. “Come on, let’s go home.”

The number of times Jack Hawthorne smiled: zero. (BUT…it’s coming soon. I can feel it.)

He had a coffee cup in one hand and the bag in the other. With his tailored suit and that I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing here look on his face, he looked so…so grumpy and adorable that I couldn’t stop myself from giving him another hug.

Rose: So what are you doing?

Jack: Eating lunch. I have a meeting in half an hour.

Rose: You’re out at lunch?

Jack: In my office.

Rose: You’re eating lunch in your office by yourself?

Jack: Yes.

Rose: Why didn’t you tell me? I make great sandwiches.

I looked down at my high-priced steak lunch and wished I had a sandwich instead.

The number of times Jack Hawthorne smiled: none. (I’ve lost hope. Help.)

“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”