Billboards and Benches

Chapter 36

May 3rd // year 3 together

She lay her head against his chest monitoring his breathing. He'll be awake soon and then he'll leave. Just like he has everyday for god knows how long. He says he's starting work earlier so that he can come home earlier but she knows he's lying. Especially because he doesn't ever come home early he's always late. He grabs a duffel bag he keeps in the bottom of their closet and then he leaves without even looking to see if she's awake. She feels his grip tighten for a moment which means he'll be awake soon. She shuts her eyes slowly keeping her head presses against him. She wants him to stay today of all days but she knew he wouldn't. She set his present on the counter in hopes that he'll see it before he leaves. It's four thirty in the morning he's always gone by five thirty at the absolute latest. She normally wakes up at seven so she only ever gets to see him when he comes home for dinner. "Happy anniversary." He whispers to her planting his lips against her forehead. He moves slowly as to not disturb her and he slips a pillow beneath her head. She's been having a difficult time since Gabriel as has he. He just found something else to do rather than mourn his son with his fiancée.

He pulls on his pants and a tight fitting shirt as well before he heads to the closet and grabs his bag. She watches him the whole time. If she sat up right now he might die. He's been trying to tell her but he doesn't know how. Most nights she can't even look at him and now that he doesn't spend as much time with her he doesn't know what to do. He can't fix this.

"Why are you awake so early?" She fakes a yawn sitting up. He stops dead in his tracks. He never thought she could wake up this early and he didn't expect it now.

"I-I have work. What are you doing awake?" He looks as if he's been caught doing something illegal. As though she's a police officer that's going to arrest him for being awake at this time.

"I have a plane to catch soon." She mumbles walking towards her dresser. He watches her closely. She hasn't been wearing his clothes and he wants to see if she will. He knows she's mad at him but if she's still wearing his clothes at the very least he knows that she doesn't hate him. "I'm going to New York for a week, not that you would know." She spits and he sighs checking the time before he walks towards her.

"Happy three years my love." He smiles and she rolls her eyes. "What's wrong?" He pouts planting his lips against her forehead. He doesn't want her to ask questions he's hoping for her to say that it's nothing or that she's fine but he knows it'll be much more than that.

"You haven't talked to me in weeks. Usually you know when I'm leaving." She sighs looking at the shirt in her hands. "Are you leaving me?" She looks up and he shakes his head. "You were supposed to come with me to New York." She whispers. His arms wrapped tightly around her while she barely acknowledges him. "I needed a date and you were supposed to be my date." She sighs pulling his arms off of her. She dresses herself putting on her t-shirt and her jeans. She grabs a pair of heels and puts those on as well. He watches to see if she grabs her chain but she doesn't. He bites his lip looking at her hand. She hasn't worn her ring at all in weeks though he can't be mad he hasn't been wearing his either.

"I'm sorry baby girl I forgot all about New York." He swallows and she nods grabbing her bag. He watches the goosebumps cover her arms when she opens their bedroom door. "Here take my sweater." He offers but she ignores the gesture. She walks past him grabbing her own sweater off of the chair in the corner of their room. "Dylan?" He begs looking at the time again.

"I have a flight to catch." She growls and he looks down. He feels so guilty he's never lied to her before. He's never had to she's always been so understanding but Gabriel broke her in ways that she can't explain. Gabriel destroyed the both of them and they needed to heal. He found his vise without Dylan. She needed him but he was never there.