Why?

XXXIV

Los Angeles, California

"Dada!" Hannah squealed as I finally came through the front door, and scooped her in my arms.
"Oh sweetheart you're in your pyjamas, I'm sorry I was late."
"I'm in mine too," she said as I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "Under this..." She fiddled suggestively with her satin robe.
"Then maybe I'm not so sorry for being late."
After putting down Hannah, I came to find Stevie curled up with her journal on the back porch. "I wondered where you'd got to."
"I felt much the same this entire evening."
"Hey you know I had no choice."
"Oh I didn't mean it like that I know you had to be there, just sit down and explain to me what went down."
"We managed to come to a civil agreement. Her lawyer knew she had no case to stop me from seeing Will, especially as I technically have more parenting experience than her with having two children."
"That's true I guess."
"I figured she'd back down face to face with me. Kristen isn't the malicious type, she was just temporarily lashing out."
"Hmm."
"I mean we had a pretty decent rel-"
"Can we maybe stop talking about your ex-wife now?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, I was j-"
"I waited up for you in a thong that's digging into my ass, and a push-up bra with such purposely small cups that it's probably going to give me breast cancer, and you've not even taken a second look at me!" She huffed folding her arms, "You know, I'm actually kind of tired of waiting around for you all day!"
"God, what do you want me to do?"
"Stop treating me like your dirty secret!"
"What? How the hell have I done that?"
"You're family and our friends, they don't even know Hannah exists! They have no idea we are in a relationship."
"We're not in a relationship, we're getting married."
She scoffed at me, "Let's see how that goes."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"God just...Fuck you!"
"What an intelligent explanation," I jeered.
"You don't get to be smug. You're the cheater this time. You ruined this. Not me."
She stormed off and I growled to myself in frustration, kicking over one of the patio chairs onto the grass. I followed her, seeing red as I forgot to even close the door behind me. She was doubled over the kitchen counter and sobbing.
"I chose you! I am here with you right now! I asked you to marry me! What more can I do? Nothing will ever please you!" I stood over her as she ignored my questions, "ANSWER ME STEVIE!"
"You're s-scaring m-me," she mumbled into her sleeve.
"Scaring you? You are scaring me! If you don't want to be with me just say it!" She stood up straight.
"I do want to be with you, but I'm scared."
"Of me? What kind of man do you think I am? I would never touch you in such a way!"
"I didn't mean that! I'm scared you will...Cheat..."
"We went to months of therapy, I thought you forgave me."
"So did I."
"All I can do is promise Steph, please..." I held her against me. "Please trust me."