oman and inherits this toddler, and her life just becomes a big shamble. You know, she struggles to balance her career and the kid. Anyway, she then moves to the country and becomes successful producing this apple baby food. So, I got to thinking—”
“You’re going to quit your job as an architect and sell baby food?” I interrupt.
“No,” she puffs, obviously annoyed at my confusion. “I need to branch out.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“See, being an architect means long and quiet hours concentrating on drawings, blueprints, you know, all that,” she informs me. “But realistically, I can’t do that with twins, so I think I’ll have to cut those hours down but still invest my spare time into something that will grow my business.”
I let out a long-winded yawn. “So, what is it?”
She scratches the top of her head. “That part I don’t know yet. I just came up with the plan. I haven’t figured out the smaller details.”
“Then why the cleaning spree?” I ask, confused.
“I’m not sure. I just thought if I cleaned up, the idea would come to me, but it didn’t.”
“Um… and the dust mites?”
“An ad on Insta after I Googled ‘which way should you hold the duster.’
I place my hand on her knee, squeezing it gently. The exhaustion hits me in waves, and this candle does nothing but make it worse. I’m torn between wanting to sleep and eat.
“Drew, I’m sorry I’ve been this bitch. I promise to get my shit together.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” I ease her concerns, keeping my voice low. “You’re pregnant.”
“I know. Still…”
We both sit in silence. Our thoughts we keep to ourselves follow the same path. Soon, our world will change for the better but not without chaos. Everything we do, everything we feel will be dictated by the two humans consuming us.
These rare, precious moments of just the two of us are moments to cherish. I love my wife, and a part of me, somewhat selfish, doesn’t want to share her with anyone.
Through the blinds the sun begins to rise, the sweet rays bouncing off our off-white walls. It’s officially Sunday, my favorite day of the week. Zoey doesn’t need to go into the office, and I don’t have a shift for another twelve hours. Pushing my exhaustion aside, I remember a moment from the past deciding to share my thoughts with her.
“There was this one time when Jess was over, and you guys got into a fight. I was angry, livid, and told myself I’d marry you and knock you up just so he didn’t.”
Zoey grins, resting her hand on my shoulder. “You said that?”
“Well, to myself. I hated him. And God… I had feelings for you back then but never acted—”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
I nod.
“I look back a lot, usually when I’m engrossed in reading some angsty romance novel and waiting for these two characters to actually hook up. Anyway, I keep reminiscing about us, you know, pre-hook-up days. And I think about all the sexual tension between us. Like, you were always throwing your sexual innuendos around, but I was like ‘whatever, you’re just doing that to annoy me.’”
I chuckle, remembering how much I did annoy her. “I was doing that to annoy you. But, I’d be lying if I said I never thought about us.”
“And look at us now…”
“Look at us now.”
“Drew,” Zoey whispers, running her hands along my chest, stirring the desire which I keep holding back since she isn’t interested in anything that involves my dick near her. “I just need you.”
She doesn’t need to say any words.
My wife needs me here, now, and forever.