"You will," I said and grabbed a pair of khaki shorts and a black silky tank.I returned to the other side of the mirror, to change."Just not today."
"What am I supposed to do all day?"
"Andrew, really.You're a big boy.You'll be fine on your own," I said and grabbed the hair dryer.His next words were drowned out by the white noise.I tried to ignore him as he got out of bed and stumbled past me into the shower.
I did my best to dry my thick hair but before long, gave up.The desert heat would finish the job.As soon as I clicked the dryer off, Andrew was ready to pick up the argument.
"You can't ignore it, you know," he said from the shower.
"What are you talking about?"
"Lexi, this trip was supposed to be about us."
"No, it's supposed to be about Nicole and Ryan.I told you that."I swiped mascara on my lashes.
"And us," he insisted."Maybe you haven't noticed, but we haven't been very close lately."
Was he kidding?
"You have to be kidding."I dropped the mascara tube into my make-up bag.
He clicked the water off and reached out for a towel."When's the last time we had sex?"
"It's hard to have sex when..."I wanted to say it was hard to have sex when I resented him so much.But I didn't."...when you're working so much.You could come home and spend some time with us."
"Us?"His reflection filled the mirror as he stepped out of the shower with the towel wrapped around his waist.
"Yes, us.Your wife and child.Remember?"
My cell phone chirped.A text from Nicole.
Where r u?
The hard lines of his face melted and his voice softened as he said, "I want to spend time with you, Lexi."
And that was the problem right there."It would be easier to be with you if you were home, playing the role of family man once in a while."
"But would a family man do this?"He slid up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.He smelt like soap and I could feel exactly what he wanted through his towel.I shivered, not in a good way, before I could stop myself but he took it as encouragement and kissed my neck.
"Hmm..."he moaned."Nicole can wait."
My irritation flared again and I shook him off."You're unbelievable," I said."It's not always about you, Andrew.Nicole needs me."I pushed past him and grabbed my purse off the dresser.
"That's right," he said, the anger back in his voice."Someone always needs you.What about me?"
"Please, don't do this now."
"So, you're going to choose her over me?"
"It's not about choosing."
"It's always a choice, Lex."He looked me straight in the eyes and I got the distinct feeling that we weren't talking about Nicole anymore.
My phone chirped again.
Hello?R u alive?
I grabbed my phone and punched in:Coming.