Life Match

Day Four

I sleep on the love seat in the corner of our room. Riah doesn’t argue with me, just fixes my knee and tosses me a pair of pajamas that don’t even match and a blanket. When I wake up from some of the best sleep I’ve had in awhile (I sleep very well when I’m pissed) I see a note and my clothes laid on the bed.

My Love

I hope you slept well Sage- sorry things worked out the way they did last night.

I’ve ran you a bath and when you’re done meet me for breakfast.

-Riah

I wonder if I sell this paper with his signature how much will I get for it. Probably enough to get me out of here. Maybe even take Jericho and my parents. I take a bath, but not after draining the one Riah ran and drawing my own. Today Riah has a nice red blouse with ruffles on the front, a pair of white jeans, with white sandals, a red flower on the toe. Why does his good taste make me so angry? It’s better than mine probably.

I go downstairs and Riah is cooking, Ava sitting on the table watching. She sees me first, “Morning Honey. You look beautiful today.”

“Thank you, Ava,” I sit next to her, “What’s he doing?”

“He insisted on making you breakfast,” she says skeptically, “By himself...”

“Oh,” I reply, wondering why he’s being so nice.

“Ava, do you mind leaving me and my bride, please?” He asks sweetly, “You can have the day to yourself.”

She kisses the top of his head and leaves, “Thank you.”

 He gives her a few dollars and she hugs me before leaving. Riah puts down a plate of French toast topped with fresh cut fruit, including my favorite, mango. He gives me another plate with eggs and bacon on it. I take a bite and it’s delicious. That’s why I hate him. If he wasn’t such a jerk, he’d probably be a great husband to me and anyone else for that matter. Instead he controls by fear and status, instead of the natural charm he has already.

“How is everything?” He asks, fixing his own plate. It’s weird for a man to cook for his wife, but not uncommon. Serving himself however, is a no-no except for special occasions.

“It’s alright,” I shrug, not wanting to admit how great it truly is, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

He looks shocked, “Because I love you. And I hurt you. And I want to apologize. So let me apologize to my wife.”

I stare at him and he sighs, “That lady? The one who’s going to check on us? Our first meeting is today.”

I must have a devilish glare on me because he says, “If you don’t stop looking like that, I’m going to kiss you because we all know how much you love those.”

I grimace, “Shut up, sir.”

He frowns, “I’ll be in our room if you need me.”

“I won’t,” I mumble under my breath.

****

I finish breakfast by myself and head out for a walk. I hadn’t had an intended course, but I somehow end up over by the lake, watching Jericho take a class on fishing. His golden head shines out from all the others and his tan skin is slick from the summer heat. I wait for him to excuse himself and follow him, my nice clothes getting ruined by the underbrush.

“Jericho!” I whisper yell at him. He sees me immediately and makes his way hurriedly towards me.

“Where were you last night?” He asks, “I tried to wait but-“