The Woman He Married

09. Decisions

Xavi went home after hearing about Ruth from Martin. It was all over group chats, because Ruth was basically everybody's friend even before she dated Zane. The boys went to the hospital to visit her, but Xavi decided to go home.

He had faith that Zane wouldn't leave the house for his ex.

But when he got there, Zane's car was nowhere to be seen. Xavi head inside and found Mae in the kitchen, just done with cleaning up. She seemed fine, but Xavi hated seeing it.

"Did you stop him?" He asked.

"Who?" Mae frowned.

"Zane."

"Why would I stop him from going anywhere?"

"Did he tell you where he was going?"

"Yeah," Mae nodded, "The hospital, to see Ruth."

Xavi gaped at her, "Okay, but just know that he only did that because she tried hurt herself. Zane wouldn't have left if--"

"Xavi, it has nothing to do with me," she told him.

"But he's your husband," Xavi frowned.

"Yeah, but he doesn't know that. Even if he knows that I am his wife, I wouldn't stop him," Mae pointed out. She frowned after realizing he was talking as if she should be responsible for whatever decision Zane has made. "Look, whatever he decides to do is his rights. Why are you mad at me? Why is everybody mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," Xavi replied, "But you could have said something about it. Does it sits right with you that someone's husband just left home in the middle of the night to check on his ex?"

Mae gaped at him as her head was spinning, a little tipsy from the wine. She scratched her temple, then gestured for him to stop saying anything else. "I don't want to talk when I'm tipsy."

"At least own up to your own decision," Xavi told her, "You decided to make that guy your husband. He's respectfully and rightfully yours, Mae Westbrook."

"Yeah, but I'm Kate whenever I'm with him. Even if I'm Mae, I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Zane wouldn't do this to you if he had known--"

"I'm fine with it," Mae interjected, "Really, I'm okay."

Xavi held his breath, staring at her. "You don't look okay."

Mae lowered her gaze for a moment. Maybe she was not okay, after all. "Zane told me that I would have been his first choice. I don't know how to feel about that because he's talking about Kate and not Mae. Then he left the second he heard about Ruth."

"He told you what?"

"But at least that proves a point. I get that all the time," Mae told him, smiling. "Hey, do you play ukulele?"

Xavi sighed, chuckling softly. He forgot that Mae told him about the insignificance of men in her life. "I used to play the guitar. Pretty sure I can learn ukulele real quick."

Her face lit up, "I have ukulele. Do you want to try?" She pointed to her room.

"You play ukulele?"

"No," Mae hummed, "My dad does. It's his."

Xavi watched as she left into her room. He remembered what Isla told him about Mae losing everything but her clothes and 'a small guitar thing'. Not only was she homeless, but also penniless. "I should have agreed to marry you in his stead," he sighed as he heard her footsteps approaching. She came back with a ukulele and a bright smile, soft blush on her cheeks.

"It might need some tuning, it's old," Mae told him, handing over her most prized possession.

"Mae."

She looked at him.