Love That Burns

four

 That night changed everything. Without even needing a conversation, you woke up that morning a couple. Their routine remained mostly the same except for the added hand-holding, cuddling, kissing, and lots of sex.

There was also the fact that the two of you opened up to each other more. Before it was brief pieces of needed information but now the two of you knew each other's whole life stories. It felt relieving to finally have someone who knew the whole of you and to have someone that you knew completely.

The two of you had left the team seven years ago now and officially been a couple for five. You had built yourselves a nice, stable life. It was everything you never knew you wanted or even needed. Except, you had noticed James was beginning to pull away. He was clearly nervous or bothered by something, but would never open up when you asked. Even as you sat in the passenger seat while James drove you two to his work.

"The steering wheel will break if you keep clutching it like that," you said. You watched as he loosened his grip. James kept his eyes on the road like it was impossible to look your way. "What is going on, James?"

"Nothing," he muttered.

You scoffed. "Okay. Keep lying to me."

"I ain't lying."

"Whatever."

The rest of the ride to his work was silent. You stared out your open window, trying to focus on the surroundings instead of the tears that were threatening to pour out of your eyes. When you reached the lumber yard, James threw the truck into park, got out, and grabbed his tools from the trunk.

"See you, baby," he mumbled before heading towards the truck full of his coworkers.

You slid across the bench seat to the driver's side and swung open the door. "Hey!" You called, standing up.

James briefly glanced at his coworkers before heading back to you. "Sorry," he whispered before you pulled him in for a kiss.

His coworkers whistled and commented until James broke the kiss and headed over to them. You watched as James joined them in the truck. He shot you a smile as they drove off. With a sigh, you got back in the car and drove yourself to work.

~~~

Your work day was long, but not because of the students you were teaching. Your mind was on James and what was going on with him. After all these years, you thought you had told each other everything. Maybe you were wrong. Or maybe, he was growing tired of you. That fear gnawed away at you through the school day and into the car ride to pick up James. You were already waiting in the passenger seat when he got off work. He put his tools in the trunk before slipping into the driver's seat.

"Hey, sweetheart," he said, leaning over for a kiss. You didn't move and he reluctantly settled for kissing your cheek.

The long drive home was full of awkward tension. When you finally pulled up to the house, you got out of the car and slammed the door before marching inside. James' brows furrowed as he followed you.

"Baby, what's wrong?" He asked.

"What's wrong?" You spun around to face him. "I've been asking you that for a week now! And you never give me a straight answer!"

"I've just had a lot going on and—"

"I thought we talked to each other... I thought we told each other everything."

"We do. It's just—"

"Do you want to end this?"

"What?" James practically stumbled at your words.