Paper Bride ✔️ (Book 4 - DP Series - COMPLETE)

24. You're Obnoxious

We only leave the hot tub long enough to eat some dinner, and then we're dropping ourselves back into its heated waters again to enjoy a somewhat cool evening gazing at the night sky. We're so far from any civilization that the stars are practically kissing us with their intensity. I think I could even reach out and pluck them from the sky if I wanted. But, I'm too comfortable to move from my position. The water is hugging me to it and I don't wish for it to let go.

Seth is on my right seeming to be just as enthralled by the polka-dotted sky as I am. We don't speak because we don't need to. We're happily enjoying each other's company. Words aren't necessary when nature is talking so loud. There's an entire symphony taking place in the trees. Crickets lead the percussion with their rhythmic rattles and chirps, frogs offer a nice bass as they croak into the night and an occasional coyote chimes in with an eery howl of passion.

After asking about his tattoo, I went on to discover several more tattoo meanings. He's got some deep stuff woven into his skin and I can't help but wonder if the man I love gets deeper the further in you go. What kind of secrets and emotions does he have swirling around beneath the surface? The heaviest secrets tend to sink into the darkest parts of a person and I'm dying to know what lay in Seth's internal shadows.

"Do you regret us?"

The question is so random that I actually sit up to get a clearer view of Seth's face. He's not looking at me though. His eyes are trained upward, his head resting on the rim of the tub as he takes in the scenery above him.

"Why would you ask that?" I can't help but wonder aloud.

I'm not sure where his thoughts are, but clearly, they're not in a pretty place. I'm not sure how to assure him that this is what I want. I want him to understand that the only regret I have is not trying harder to prevent these problems.

"Sorry," he mutters with a shrug. "I didn't mean to ruin the mood. Let's just forget I asked."

"Uh..." I watch him for a moment, waiting for him to elaborate. He just shakes his head at me, assuring me that he wants me to let it go. I'm so curious, but we also promised to make this weekend fun and save the heart-wrenching stuff for later. This seems like a topic that should be saved for that conversation.

Silence descends once again, only this time the crickets, frogs, and coyotes are no longer in sync. Something is off. They just sound messy and irritating now. The heavy croaks of the frogs are especially grating on my nerves, and I'm annoyed that Seth's one simple question did so much damage to the mood.

Why would he ask that? Is it because he regrets us and wants to know if I feel the same way? Is he hoping I'll confess to wishing we'd never gotten hitched so that he'll feel better when he presents me with those dreaded divorce papers? These are all questions that I need to be verbalizing to Seth, and yet, as irritated as I am by my own silence, I remain quiet.

Whatever the reason, I'm no longer in the mood to sizzle in a tub of water beneath the stars. Instead, I stand, stretching my arms overhead as I yawn. I return my gaze to Seth just in time to see him pulling his eyes away from my exposed stomach. There's a tension in his posture now and heat in his eyes.

How could someone who wants to divorce me look as if he wants to ravage me so badly instead? The pieces don't add up. His words say one thing, but his face says another. He's the most confusing man on the planet.

I'm tempted to test the waters and see what boldness would get me this time, but I can't help but fear that he'd reject me... again. So, instead, I step out of the hot tub and wrap my towel around my body. The sudden change in temperature has me wanting to sink back into the heated water, but I resist.