Chasing His Rejected Wife
Chapter 26 -

I jerked awake to a persistent pounding invading my cozy cocoon. Groggy, it took me a minute to untangle my mind from the fog of sleep and realize the noises were coming from my front door. At the same time, I caught sight of my phone lit up with an incoming call. I hesitated, torn over which one to answer first, then grabbed the phone, to check the caller id. Blinking at the competing disruptions, I finally snatched up the phone to check the caller ID. The display showcased a beaming snapshot of Anna and me, a memory captured on the day of our college graduation.

I let out a half-awake groan and pushed back the duvet, wincing as my stiff muscles protested my abrupt movement. With a sluggish shuffle, I wandered to the living room, the persistent phone still in my hand while I stifled a yawn. Just as I staggered into the living room, a fresh barrage of knocks reverberated through the apartment and I hustled to open the door before my neighbors decided to file a noise complaint against the new tenant, already envisioning my neighbors composing a symphony of angry emails directed at the "new kid."

I pulled open the door and glared at the pixie-haired girl behind it. "Pipe down, will you? Eviction notices aren't exactly on my to-do list for the day."

Anna grinned at me unrepentantly. "Sorry. But I figured you were still asleep and knowing how you sleep like the dead, I had to take desperate measures."

"I do not sleep like the dead." I retorted, opening the door wider so she could enter. I caught a whiff of a delicious aroma as she passed and my mouth watered. "Do I smell cinnamon rolls?"

"Yep." She held up a large tote bag. "Freshly made by yours truly as well as tea, since I figured coffee was off the table for the time being, tiny tenant and all." She finished off with a gesture at my stomach.

"Tea sounds divine." I breathed and made grabby hands at the bag. She handed it over, and I rummaged through it while she shut the door behind her. There were two thermos mugs, one filled with my tea and the other probably contained coffee for Anna. Setting those aside, I dug out a brown paper bag filled with baked goodies and inhaled in delight. I pulled out a still-warm roll and took a huge bite, then had to close my eyes in bliss as the flavor filled my mouth and assaulted my tastebuds.

"Oh my God!" I mumbled around a mouthful, my lips dusted with flecks of sugar. "This is so good...I've missed your cooking."

While she may not look like she knew her way around a stove, Anna was exceptionally talented in the kitchen, able to whip up the most delicious meals and snacks. I owed my days of eating well during college to her, otherwise, I'd have subsisted on my own crappy cooking and take out. These days though, she rarely did any cooking unless she was looking for a way to blow off some steam after a stressful time. So, I appreciated her taking the time to make something for me this morning.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you and my future goddaughter are well-fed," Anna replied, watching me eat with a satisfied smile.

"It could be a boy, you know." I pointed out, taking another bite, whilst reaching for another helping in the bag.

Anna wrinkled her nose in mild distaste. "I hope not. He'll remind me too much of dickface whatshisname and how much I want to introduce his face to the back of my hand."

I ignored her in favor of inhaling another mouthful. Fortunately, the morning sickness had stopped right after the emergency, replaced by an ever-present need to stuff my face with food. I didn't have any cravings in particular, merely a need to eat as much as possible.

She glanced around my apartment and made a face. "Jesus, we need to get you some furniture, asap. She stepped towards the armchair and eyed it in distaste. "I'm not sitting on that. That looks like it's been through three world wars and then some."

I rolled my eyes and pointed toward my bedroom. "We can use my bedroom. There's a bed there at least."

Pausing only to grab some paper napkins that Aiden had left behind, I led the way to my bedroom.

"When did you buy this?" Anna asked once she glimpsed my new bed. She set the tote on the floor and moved close to inspect it, sitting on the edge and bouncing a few times to test it. "Nice. Is this memory foam?"

"Yes." I moved to the window to pull open the curtains. Sunlight poured into the room, dispelling the last of the gloom. I peered outside, noting the weather seemed nice and warm today. Maybe I could go for a walk later if the weather held. "Fancy. Must have cost a pretty penny."

I chose not to tell her that Aiden had paid for the bed, not wanting to open that particular can of worms just yet. Instead, I started on my third roll, this time eating a little slower since the first pangs of hunger had been appeased. Anna handed me a mug filled with tea and I thanked her yet again.

She kicked off her boots to sit cross-legged on the bed, coffee cradled in her hands. "Okay. Now, spill. What happened yesterday?"

I took a moment to sip at the scalding hot tea and gather my thoughts. "Well, he wanted me to go home with him, but I told him I needed some space to figure out what I wanted for us. He wasn't happy, and it took a bit of convincing, but eventually he agreed."

I recounted the events of yesterday, while she listened intently, nodding in agreement once in a while. I hesitated for a bit, then added softly. "The thing is, a part of me still wants to believe that he'll change, to give him another chance in hopes that he'll...I don't know...maybe fall in love with me and we'll live happily ever after."

I caught the alarm in her expression and hastened to reassure her. "No, don't get me wrong, I'm not so stupid to fall for that, but..."

Anna sighed and reached out to rub my back reassuringly. "I get it, Babe. Believe me, I do. Love makes us do and think about stupid, harmful shit and I'd be lying if I said I'm not guilty of falling for that delusion over and over again." Her expression turned stern. "But that's exactly why I'm telling you not to make the same mistake and fall into that toxic relationship again. Aiden hurt you. Maybe not physically, but emotionally and mentally. He's made you doubt yourself as a woman who deserves to be loved and that is something that cannot be easily forgiven."

"I know." My eyes stung with unshed tears. Anna was right, I'd begun to doubt that I was worth loving and had doubted myself on a couple of other things too.

"He wants to keep this marriage, but has he even considered what that would mean in terms of intimacy?" Anna asked.

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"He's been getting sex from his partner in fornication, but what about you? When was the last time you were held in a romantic manner, let alone kissed? Will he step in and care for your needs the way you deserve or does he expect you to remain like a cold fish, only relying on your battery powered toys to get you off?"

"Okay, okay...I get it." I broke in, my face flaming at the description, which, if I were being honest, was pretty mild for Anna. Still, it was a bit mortifying to admit that I had in fact resorted to...other alternatives in dire circumstances. "Might as well name your dildo, Bob, and marry it at this rate," Anna added with a mischievous grin at my flame-red face.

"I don't have a dildo," I mumbled, into my cup. I'd only ever gotten myself off with my own hands. A few times, I'd considered ordering a toy, but each time, I balked at the thought. What if it was accidentally delivered to the wrong person? What if Aiden was around when the package arrived and he opened it? A million what-ifs had stopped me from doing it.

I risked a look at Anna to see her gaping at me incredulously. "Say you're lying!"

I let my silence speak for itself and almost laughed at the scandalized expression on my best friend's face. Her mouth opened and shut a few times and she looked like she'd just heard some devastating news. "No...." She breathed, finally replaceing words.

"What's the big deal anyway?" I shrugged and reached for my fourth roll. "My hand works perfectly fine and there's the shower head in the bathroom if I need any extra help." Which reminded me that my current shower was sadly not the detachable type. Ah well...

"I knew I shouldn't have let you remain a virgin until you got married," Anna grumbled, recovering a bit to glare at me as though it was my fault. "Should have gotten some Chad or Steve at college who at least can replace their way around a woman's body to seduce and get you laid. I have failed you as a friend."

I rolled my eyes at that. "You're overreacting, Babe."

She pointed an accusing finger at me. "I am not. Now see what's happened. You've ended up with a selfish Lothario who is getting his rocks off somewhere else. It's a fucking miracle you two even managed to replace the time to sleep together once and make a baby."

I grimaced at her and stood up to use the bathroom. "Enough with the talk of my sex life, please."

"What sex life?" she grumbled. I flipped her off and shut the bathroom door. One glance at the mirror had me opting to take a shower and freshen up a little.

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I was feeling wholly human once more just as someone knocked. Anna had gone to use the bathroom, so I quickly pulled on a hoodie and sweatpants and then went to answer the door.

Aiden stood there, looking as put together as usual in a black suit and dark blue tie. He didn't look one bit like someone who'd stayed up until 12 a.m., clearing up his wife's apartment. In contrast, I was starkly aware of my ultra casual state, still damp hair piled in an untidy bun at the top of my head, face bare of makeup, and bags under my eyes.

"Morning." His gaze swept over me, impassive as usual. He carried a shopping bag in one hand, the logo turned away from me so I couldn't see what it was, and a black overcoat draped over his other arm.

His eyebrows rose in silent query. "May I come in?"

I flushed when I realized I had been standing there staring at him without saying a word. I nodded and stepped aside for him.

"Why are you here?" I blurted out. I knew he had to have a tightly packed schedule and must have canceled and moved a few things around to be here at this time of day.

Again, his eyebrows rose. "Should I not be here? Am I not welcome?" He hesitated, his expression showing the first glimpse of uncertainty I'd ever seen from him. "I can leave if -"

"No, I didn't mean it like that," I said, shaking my head to emphasize my words. "What I meant was you have a busy schedule, so I wasn't expecting you this morning."

I knew he would show up, that was inevitable, but I'd assumed it would be late in the day when work was over.

"I brought you breakfast." He held out the bag, the logo boasting one of the most expensive restaurants in town. I took it, and peered inside, noting it had some of my favorite dishes. My lips twisted in a wry smile, sadly surprised to know he knew what I liked.

"I've already eaten, but thanks."

"Jessica!" Anna called from the bedroom and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Aiden's unhappy expression. "I know what we're going to do today, we're going to buy you a big, fat, dildo."

Shit.