Shattered Pieces

Three

Spencer

"Why do I feel like I always need another shower after the ones I take with you?" My wife playfully glares at me as she combs through her curls.

"Because I do my job correctly." I rub her favorite, well, my favorite lotion on her back, tracing tiny circles absentmindedly.

My wife is the glue that holds everything together. Take our parents, for example; that entire situation would be absolute chaos without her. I had years to come to terms with my mom's affair. I didn't always know who it was, but it didn't matter. She made a mistake, and Corey had every right to leave her over it, but leave Dillon and me? He's a coward for that shit. I'll never forgive him.

Dillon potentially being a result of the affair between my mom and Mr. Baker, now that was a surprise to everyone except my moms and pops. They're solid as it gets. I hope my and Olivia's marriage is as strong as theirs years from now.

When the truth came out with the parents, my grand plan was to stay out of it. In truth, it was nobody's business but theirs, and I guess maybe Dillon's. My wife, on the other hand, had different plans.

"Spence, babe? Are you hearing me? You look lost in thought back there." She turns to me, her beautiful brown eyes filled with concern.

"Just thinking about how you managed to bring both of our families together last Thanksgiving, and somehow everyone made it out unscathed. You're a rare breed, Olivia Baker."

"James. Olivia James." She presses her lips to mine.

I've been calling her Mrs. James since the moment she became my wife three years and five months ago, but she didn't actually change her name until Grayson was born. She said she needed time to get used to all the changes; she'd always been Olivia Baker and wasn't quite ready to part with that. I had a feeling there was a little more to it than what she said, but I didn't care what her name was; she was my wife.

When we found out she was pregnant, we agreed to hyphenate the baby's name. We'd rushed into so many things, and she had sacrificed so much. If she wanted to keep her last name, I wouldn't fight her on it.

"I just like messing with you." I twirl one of her curls in my fingers.

"Well, find a different way because I'm proud to be a James. It feels like our own private club, me you, and Gray." Her smile falters for just a second, and only slightly. If I didn't know her better than I know myself, I would've missed it.

"Hey," I brush my thumb under her chin, applying slight pressure until her gaze meets mine. "What just happened there?"

"Too perceptive for your own good." She laughs though it's void of any genuine emotion, before turning back around and continuing her post-shower routine.

"That wasn't exactly an answer."

"I'm just sorry, Spencer." Her eyes drop. "So freaking sorry." She mumbles, and I don't think I was supposed to hear the second apology.

My hands find her waist, swiftly turning her, so we're face to face again. I raise her, gently placing her down on the counter, then use my knee to part her thighs, finding a position comfortably between her legs.

"Talk to me, baby."

She gulps, and I'm wracking my brain to figure out what sucked the air out of our playful environment.

"I haven't been completely honest with you, Spencer." She tugs at her bottom lip, and now I'm extremely worried. My wife doesn't lie to me. We don't lie to each other.

I run my hand through her curls, tucking a few behind her ear. "You can tell me anything. It's you and me, baby. No matter what, it's you and me." My hand rests on the back of her head, and I pull her close, kissing her temple.