Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 65~

~Raelyn~

~May 20th 2024~

I stared at the screen, my finger hovering over a particularly stunning lace gown. It was the perfect blend of classic and modern, with intricate embroidery and a flowing train.

I'd been dreaming about this day for years, and now that it was finally getting closer, the reality of it was setting in. I turned to Colby, who was sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the football game.

"What do you think?" I asked, holding up my phone.

He glanced at the dress, then back at the TV. "It's nice," he mumbled.

I sighed. "Nice? That's all you've got?"

He shrugged. "It's a dress. What's there to think about?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's my dress, Colby. It's supposed to be special."

He looked up at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, maybe you should try losing a few pounds first. You know, get back into shape."

My heart sank. I'd been feeling a little insecure about my post-baby body, but I hadn't expected him to say it out loud.

"What the FUCK did you just say?" I demanded, my voice rising.

He looked startled. "I didn't say anything."

"Don't be a bloody coward, Colby. Tell me what the FUCK you just said." He hesitated, then repeated what he'd said.

I felt a wave of anger wash over me. "How dare you! You have no idea what it's like to push a human out of your body, let alone growing one for nine months! Fuck you!"

I yanked Aspen from her playpen and stormed out of the room. Colby called after me, but I ignored him. I needed to be alone.

As I walked down the hallway and into a nearby loft with fluffy couch, I could hear Aspen crying into my shoulder. She must have sensed the tension. I sat down on the couch and held her close, trying to calm her down.

"It's okay, baby," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Daddy's just being mean."

Colby came into the room and stood in front of me. "Raelyn, please look at me." His eyes followed me as I stood up. "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think I'm going? I'm going in the bedroom. It's doing no good staying down here next to you."

"Don't be like that, Raelyn. I'm sorry. Please look at me."

"Sure you didn't. Think before
you speak next time, Colby."

I stomped upstairs and slammed the bedroom door. I snuggled with Aspen in bed, sobbing. I could hear the other roommates, Sam, Jake, Corey, Katrina, Devyn, Tara, and my sister Isa, yelling at Colby downstairs.

"How could you say that? You need to go apologize to her. That was a really low thing to say," they were saying.

I tried to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing. I collapsed onto the bed, sobs wracking my body.

The sound of footsteps grew closer to the bedroom and a soft knock on the door followed shortly after.

"Rae." Colby said. I already knew that it was him. "Can we talk?"

I rolled my eyes and practically shoved myself out of bed and yanked the door open. He looked nervous but also guilty. "Rae, look I know what I said was wrong but—"

SLAM.

I stomped back over to bed as I sobbed into my pillow.