Tell Me You Love Me

39| Patience

Chapter 39: Patience (Brielle's POV)

And now we're both just standing there in silence. I glanced inside and saw that Alia was still in time. I've got some time to stand here with him, even if we're fighting, even if we're not talking. 

I would go back to him, even if he really did hurt me. Everyone knows that. A part of me knows that's not healthy and it shouldn't be the case, that I should respect myself more than that. And I'll work on that. But I love him too much to let go. 

"Will you come home?" 

I blinked, looking at his eyes, snapping out of my thoughts. 

He still looks like a mess. His hair is wildly messy, which I love. He's wearing a black v-neck with... sweatpants. He never leaves the house in sweatpants. 

"Have you changed?" I asked, glancing at his clothes. 

"No." 

"Have you showered?" 

"No," he mumbled. 

"What have you been doing?" 

"Crying!" he exclaimed, getting weird looks from people who walked by. 

I jumped, getting startled by his sudden yell. "What are you crying for? You're the one who made me cry first." 

"So you've decided to make me cry even more in return?" he scoffed. 

"I never said—" 

"I'm leaving." 

I grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Hey! I'm not done with you yet!" 

He rolled his eyes, chuckling dryly. "You want to hurt me more, Brielle? Make me feel guilty for something I didn't even do? Punish me for no reason? Is that it?" 

I frowned, feeling the heartache. "I didn't think you'd be so upset." 

"My wife left without even giving me a chance to explain myself. She won't talk to me, she won't even look me in the eye, and she's running away and refusing to see me. Should I not be upset then?" 

"River..." 

"She won't answer my calls," he scoffed. "She left me." 

"I didn't leave you. I told you, I need space." 

"You would get space if you moved into the other bedroom. You would get space if you moved to a completely different room and one that wasn't so close to mine. You don't leave our fucking house to create space! That's how you run from a problem!" 

"Stop yelling at me!" 

"No, I want to yell at you tonight!" 

"Then I'm leaving!" I grabbed the handle. 

He grabbed my arm, spinning me back around and pushing me against his car. "I'm not done with you yet!" 

"Ma'am—" I looked behind him at an older man who seemed concerned for me. 

"It's okay, please, keep walking. We're fine," I nodded, smiling reassuringly before glaring at River. "You're making a scene." 

"Do you really think I care about that right now?" 

"Just have some patience, River! I'm not leaving you! I'm not filing for divorce, I haven't even moved out! I just took one suitcase to last me a few days! I'll be back home!" 

"Yeah, but we don't know when and I have to keep suffering until then, don't I?!" He lifted a daring brow at me. "I have to sleep alone in our bed. I have to wake up to the empty side where you should be. I have to spend my whole day wanting to see your face and not being able to, don't I, Brielle Grimaldi? Or should I call you Brielle Willow now?"