I’d been there.
Bought the T-shirt.
The one thing I knew for sure?
I would never go back there.
For anyone.
Ever again.
I’d promised myself.
Never.
After I realized what I needed to do—I did it.
An hour later,Trey came striding through the door. The puppy barked at him, then ran up to see her daddy.
“Aww, how’s my little girl? Huh?” he asked her in a high, squeaky voice.
He dropped his bag and picked her up for a cuddle.
My heart squeezed as I watched him with her.
Gosh.
I was going to miss this.
“How’s my—” Trey gazed over at me, then frowned, “wife? What’s wrong?”
I pulled up the handle on my suitcase. “I was cleaning up.” I nodded to the coffee table.
And what was on it.
Once Trey caught sight of his suitcase, he swallowed, and said, “I can explain.”
I pursed my lips together. “I don’t want to hear it. Everything inside of there,” I pointed to his suitcase, “speaks loud and clear.”
He huffed, and said, “You just got back. Where are you guys traveling now?” His eyes shot to the suitcase at my side.
Then up at me.
“I’m done, Trey. This is not something I’m sticking around for. I won’t watch you self-destruct.”
Tears threatened to spill over, but I refused to allow that.
My dry throat didn’t make it any easier.
He set the puppy down and walked straight to me. “You have nothing to worry about. I needed them for a while longer until I got on track. My pain’s better now. I don’t need them anymore.”
His warm hands settled on my forearms. I loved how his touch made me feel.
He was close enough that I could smell his delicious, spicy scent.
Everything in me wanted to let go of my suitcase.
And wrap my arms around him.