Hearts Will Beat

by E. L. Todd

  “Because it does.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “You’re acting like a child right now,” Slade said. “Normally, this is reversed. So why are you behaving this way?”

  “I just am…”

  “You really need to get a grip, Trinity. I’ve been nothing but faithful and obsessive with you. If you really think some model is going to walk by and take me away from you then…you don’t know me at all.” He walked out and slammed the door behind him.

  I closed my eyes and released a deep sigh.

  Chapter Four

  Slade

  “And then she got all pissed off at me because these two supermodels hit on me. It’s like, what the hell was I supposed to do?” I slammed my hands down on the table. People sat at the nearby tables in Mega Shake but I didn’t keep my voice down. “She told me to be polite and charming and I was. It’s not my fault everyone was so interested in me. Come on, look at me.” I pointed at my face. “She acted like I cheated on her or something.”

  Dad listened to me ramble on then sipped his soda.

  I stared at him as I waited for a response. “She’s being a brat. How could she possibly feel insecure? And then she accused me of thinking Georgia and Sandra are hot, and I don’t think that at all.”

  Dad sipped his soda again.

  “This came out of nowhere. We were great one moment and then this stupid fashion show fucked that all up. I’ve been nothing but perfect for her so how could she possibly think that I enjoy being hit on? I really don’t. It happens every single day but I don’t bring it up. Did she think it never happened? Did she think women were turned off since I got married? Well, they aren’t.”

  Dad continued to stare at me.

  “Are you going to stay something or what?” I demanded.

  He shrugged. “You kept talking so I assumed you weren’t done.”

  “Well, this is a conversation, not a monologue.”

  “What do you want me to say?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” I snapped. “I’m right, aren’t I? She’s being a little brat.”

  “You want validation?”

  “I want to vent about my wife while you agree with me.”

  “Well, I don’t agree with you.”

  “Say what?” I blurted.

  “I don’t think Trinity is insecure about your relationship. I think she’s insecure in another way.”

  “Insecure how?” I asked. “I’m not following.”

  “Well, it was her big night and she probably hoped that everyone would come flocking to her and compliment her work. She wanted to be a star, to get credit for all the hard work she’s done.”

  “People came up to her all the time,” I argued.

  “But it sounds like they came up to you a lot.” He gave me a look full of accusation.

  “Well, they did…”

  “And don’t you think that hurt her feelings?”

  “How so?”

  “You took the spotlight. You stole her thunder. People didn’t even notice she was there because they were looking at you the whole time. Don’t you think she wants Georgia Price to come up to her and tell her how much she loves her clothes? Not how much she wants to screw her husband?”

  I shrugged in acknowledgment.

  “Slade, she’s insecure about her career. She’s screaming at the top of her lungs but no one is listening.”

  “I’m always listening…”

  “So, cut her some slack. You’re getting the heat because you were the star of the evening, but it has nothing to do with you personally.”

  “Wouldn’t that help her career?” I asked. “That people like me so much?”

  “Do you not know Trinity?” he asked. “She’s a self-made woman. She doesn’t like help from anyone, just like her father. She wants to do everything herself because she knows she can.”

  This was more complicated than I thought.

  “She’ll apologize soon,” Dad said. “Forgive her and move on.”

  “I’m hurt she was so threatened by Georgia…”

  “Like I said, she wasn’t.”

  It was still hard for me to let it go. “Just because she’s upset doesn’t give her the right to treat me like that.”

  Dad nodded. “You’re right.”

  “I’ve been nothing but perfect since the day I married her. If she expects me to put in that much effort, then she better do the same for me.”

  “Slade, it was just a fight. Don’t overanalyze it.”

  “Well, I’m pissed off.”

  “When she apologizes you won’t be angry anymore.”

  “I don’t know…I’m pretty mad.”

  “Trust me on this.” He sipped his soda again.

  “You forgive Mom all the time?”

  He gave me a stupid look. “You think I hold everything against her until the end of time?”

  I shrugged.

  “No, I don’t. And she hardly ever does anything worth arguing over. She and I click, like best friends.”

  “Trinity and I are best friends.”

  “And friends always forgive each other.”

  I knew my anger was doing all the talking for me. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”

  “Sure. Just don’t stay over again.” He gave me a teasing look. “Your mother and I don’t miss having you guys in the house. We enjoy our freedom and privacy.

  “Anyway…” This sounded like something I didn’t want to hear about.

  Dad finished his soda. “I need to get back to work. I’ll see you later.” He slid out of the booth. “You aren’t coming back to the apartment, right?”

  “I was planning on it.”

  He sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll see you then.”

  ***

  I was just about to lock the door to the shop when Trinity appeared. She wore a purple dress with a silver necklace. A black raincoat kept her warm. And she wore flats.

  She stopped in front of the window and stared at me.

  No matter how mad I was I would never leave my wife on the street. I unlocked the door and allowed her inside. All my workers were gone so it was just me.

  She stepped inside with her hands in her pockets.

  I ignored her and returned to counting the money at the register.

  Trinity approached the counter, remaining silent.

  I gave her the cold shoulder and shoved the money into the safe. When I was finished, I grabbed my wallet and keys. “I’m going to my dad’s place.” I headed to the door.

  “Slade, wait…”

  I turned to her, still feeling angry.

  “I’m sorry.” Her voice came out as a whisper.

  “About…?”

  “Everything.”

  “You’re sorry you accused me of checking out Georgia and Sandra? Or are you sorry you got angry with me for being the center of attention?”

  “Yes and yes.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I just…” She stared at her hands. “I worked really hard to get there but all people cared about was you. I got a few compliments on my clothes but…everyone was infatuated with you. I guess I felt resentful and I took it out on you…”

  I didn’t make a move toward her.

  “And it pissed me off that the girls kept making passes at you. They couldn’t care less about offending me.”

  “Maybe they didn’t know.”

  “Or they just didn’t care,” she said bitterly.

  I leaned against the counter.

  “Anyway, it had nothing to do with you. I was just…upset. I’m sorry I took it out on you.”

  Just like my dad predicted, the anger faded away. Seeing her vulnerable, and even embarrassed hit me right in the heart. She was apologetic, and even a little sad. She wouldn’t make eye contact with me like she didn’t have the right to. “It’s okay.”

  She looked up at me, surprise in her eyes. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I dropped my arms to my sides and walked
to her. Then I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me. “I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you wanted the other night.”

  “Me too…”

  “And I’m glad you aren’t jealous. You really have no reason to be, Trinity. Everyone thinks they are the most beautiful women in the world but I’m not everybody. You’re the woman I want. You know me. I wouldn’t have settled for anyone, not unless she was perfect. And baby, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I would never let you go or trade you in for something else.”

  “I know…”

  I rubbed my nose against hers. “The others don’t bother you, so don’t let them bother you.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What others?”

  “You know, the girls who come onto me on a daily basis.”

  “Oh really?” she asked.

  “I never mention them because they aren’t worth mentioning. But it does happen. I know you already know that.”

  The irritation was still in her eyes.

  “So, let it go. They may look at me but I don’t look at them. You knew when you married me that other girls would always sniff around. And I’ve come to accept that men gawk at you on a daily basis. But who cares what everyone else thinks of us. We are the only people who matter.”

  Her anger disappeared and there was only softness in her eyes. “You’re right.”

  “I’m always right.”

  “I didn’t say that,” she said. “But most of the time you’re right.”

  I kissed her slowly and felt her soft lips. “Now let’s go home so we can have awesome make up sex.”

  “Okay,” she said with a smile. “That sounds nice.”

  Chapter Five

  Cayson

  Skye didn’t mention her father again, which was very smart. I wasn’t going to change my mind about this. He hurt me in a way that Skye never did. He was a father to me and he turned his back on me. Ever since the very beginning, I always showed him respect. I drove all the way down to his house just to ask his permission to be with his daughter. After everything we’d been through, how could he doubt me like that?

  No, I wasn’t going to sweet this under the rug.

  Ever.

  When I walked into the house I was still a little moody from the previous day. I didn’t know what I was walking into, possibly another ambush. I hung my coat on the rack and dropped my satchel on the ground.

  “Is that you, babe?” Skye called from the kitchen.

  “Yes.” I couldn’t keep the irritation out of my voice.

  Skye waddled into the entryway, wearing a pink apron that hardly fit across her stomach. “Hey, how was your day?”

  “Good.”

  She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. “I missed you.”

  When she said things like that it was hard for me to stay upset. “I missed you too.”

  “We’re having guests for dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”

  I was on my guard again.

  “It’s just us,” Slade called from the kitchen.

  I immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

  “We’re having spaghetti and meatballs,” Skye said. “Are you hungry?”

  “I’m starving. I went to the gym on my lunch break.”

  “Well, sit down. I’ll get you a beer.”

  “No beer.” How many times did I have to tell her that?

  “Okay.” She dropped the argument.

  I walked into the kitchen and saw Slade and Trinity. “What brings you guys out here?”

  “Just wanted to have dinner with our two best friends,” Trinity said. “Now that you guys are actually together we can do stuff again.”

  “We’re godparents to each other’s kids so we need to hang out all the time,” Slade said.

  I raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “How did you know you were the godparents?”

  “Uh…” Slade shoved a piece of bread into his mouth and chewed slowly, stalling. “I just assumed.”

  “Oh…” That sounded like something Slade would do. “Well, Skye and I talked about it and we would love it if you would be the godparents to our child.”

  “We would be so honored,” Trinity said. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

  “Roland is gonna be pissed.” Slade smiled like he accomplished something.

  Skye set the food on the table and took the seat beside me. “I think he’s too happy to be pissed about anything.” Skye’s hand immediately went to my thigh under the table as she took a piece of bread with the other hand.

  It struck me in that moment how much I missed this. I missed having dinner with her when friends came over. She always shot me looks of love from her seat, and it seemed like we were a family. I was used to being in my apartment all alone, without the warmth of Skye’s presence.

  I put my arm over the back of her chair. “Thank you for dinner, baby.”

  “Of course. I’ve got to keep my man well fed.” Skye spun her fork around and got all the pasta around the utensil before she took a bite.

  “What’s new with you?” Slade asked.

  “Nothing,” I said. “Just work.”

  “That stupid bitch give you any trouble?” Trinity went from calm to psycho in three seconds.

  “Baby, chill,” Slade whispered.

  Skye smiled. “It’s nice having someone to hate her with.”

  “You bet your ass I hate her,” Trinity said. “The second I’m not pregnant I’m kicking her ass.”

  Slade rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

  “I could totally take her,” Trinity said. “Right?” She turned to me for an answer.

  “How would I know?” I asked.

  “Well, you actually know her,” Trinity argued.

  I shrugged. “She’s pretty independent and strong. Don’t underestimate her. She seems harmless on the surface but she’s wicked underneath.”

  “If you had to protect her then I doubt she’s that threatening,” Slade said.

  I saved her that night when I didn’t have to. And then she starts working at the same place I do? That’s how she repaid me, and I still couldn’t believe it.

  “Enough about her,” Skye said. “She’s just an annoying fly that we swat away.”

  I leaned into Skye and kissed her on the cheek. Knowing Skye trusted me and never wondered if I was fucking Laura on my desk made me high as a kite.

  Slade watched us with a grin on his face.

  “How did your fashion show go?” Skye asked.

  Slade’s smile immediately disappeared and he shook his head.

  “Terrible,” Trinity said. “All people cared about was coming onto Slade.”

  Slade shrugged in response.

  “What?” Skye asked.

  “Georgia Price pretty much asked to sleep with him,” Trinity snapped. “First it was Conrad and now Slade.”

  “Damn, she gets around,” Skye said.

  I tilted my head as I regarded Slade.

  He gave me a look that said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “There are so many hoes in the world,” Trinity said with a sigh.

  I couldn’t believe Slade got hit on by a famous model, but I knew it wasn’t smart to say something in front of Trinity.

  “She’ll be after Cayson next,” Trinity said.

  “I’d like to see her try,” Skye threatened. “Pregnant or not pregnant, I’d pull her hair out.”

  Slade was growing uncomfortable with this conversation. “Dude, this spaghetti is bomb.”

  “Yeah,” I said in agreement. “Really good, baby.”

  “Thanks,” Skye said with a smile.

  “Want to play Monopoly when we’re finished?” Trinity asked.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Skye said.

  After dinner, the girls gathered the plates and headed into the kitchen.

  Slade and I moved into the living room and grabbed t
he board games. Since we were out of earshot I immediately started talking. “What? Georgia Price came onto you?”

  He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “Yeah. And Sandra Humbleton did too.”

  “Why?” I blurted.

  He gave me an offended look. “What do you mean why? Look at me.”

  “Right in front of Trinity?”

  “Well, Sandra hit on me when I was on my way to the bathroom. Georgia did it in front of Trinity, but I think she assumed we weren’t together.”

  “Talk about a crazy night…”

  “We got into a bad fight but we’re okay now.”

  “Skye would flip if a supermodel came onto me.”

  “Yeah…Trinity wasn’t happy about it.” He glanced at the kitchen again before turning back to me. “Girls hit on me all the time, so I don’t see why it makes a difference if supermodels do it.”

  “I wouldn’t appreciate it if Ryan Gosling came onto Skye.”

  He rolled his eyes. “He would never be into her. You’re good.”

  I let the comment slide. “Trinity has no reason to worry. She trusts you.”

  “She still gets jealous…really bad.”

  “I would be jealous too.” It didn’t matter how much I trusted Skye. When Rhett was into her I didn’t like it at all. He was handsome and rich…definitely a threat.

  “At least it’s in the past now.”

  “The guys would be really jealous if they knew Georgia Price made a pass at you.” Just thinking about it made me laugh.

  “She’s not that hot,” he said. “I don’t see what the big deal is. And if she slept with Conrad she obviously has low self-esteem.”

  “I’m sure Theo would nail her if he had the opportunity.”

  “Nah. He seems pretty happy with Dee.”

  “They’re together now?” I asked.

  “They just started dating but it seems to be going well.”

  “That’s cool.”

  The girls joined us in the living room with their sparkling cider. “What are you guys talking about?” Skye sat beside me on the couch.

  “About how beautiful our wives are.” Slade set up the board then put his arm around Trinity’s waist.

  Trinity and Skye stared at each other.

  “Sure,” Trinity said.

  Skye laughed. “Whatever you say.”

  ***

  Being happy and in love was the best feeling in the world. There was never a doubt in my mind that Skye was the one—and only one. Knowing she would be mine until the end of time was exactly what I’d always hoped for. And making love to her every night was heaven.