Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Elysia pinched the soft flesh of her palm hard, her eyes brimming with tears, "Why didn't you respond when you saw my message?" "I... I'm sorry."

Sorry?

He was apologizing to her!

So, he was rejecting her feelings!

Elysia felt a pang of heartache, just like any girl whose confession had been turned down, her tears uncontrollably mixed with the rain, thankfully concealing her sorrow from him.

"I get it." Elysia forced herself to sound calm, pretending to be unharmed, "I just said it in case you were down because of Keith, to cheer you up. Don't take it seriously."

What she implied was clear: It's fine you don't like me, because I don't like you either!

Tarquin was confused,

"But didn't your last message ask me to reply asap, wanting to talk about us?"

Elysia paused, "That was the one before! The last one was a voicemail!"

"Voicemail? You sent me a voicemail?"

Elysia: "..."

Tarquin explained, "I was swimming when you tried to reach me, and by the time I wanted to reply, I got caught up in something, and then I left the phone in the car."

Elysia was surprised, "Then your phone was off, did you know?"

"It was? No, I didn't know."

Elysia: "..." He clearly hadn't seen her message.

Meaning, his apology wasn't a rejection of her feelings!

The sadness was replaced with nervousness.

Before she could say anything, Tarquin again carefully lifted her into the car.

After closing the door, he began to clean the wounds on her feet.

"I'll drive you home," he said, after finishing.

As he moved to the driver's seat, Elysia grabbed his hand, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Tarquin frowned in silence for a moment,

"I was in a bad mood today and did something terrible at the bar... I kissed you in front of everyone... I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for worrying you by not replying to your messages."

Elysia shook her head, "I didn't come here to hear your apology! I want to know what's really bothering you today. Is it because of Keith?"

Tarquin frowned, about to admit that Keith was indeed a part of his troubles and he was planning to confess everything to her. But now, he was at a loss for words!

Elysia said firmly, "I don't like him! I can tell you seriously, again, I don't like him! Not one bit! Don't get the wrong idea!"

Tarquin looked at her with a complex expression, clearly not buoyed by her assurance.

Elysia frowned, "Don't you believe me?"

"I do believe you," he admitted, though he was worried she might fall for Keith someday, he believed her current feelings. Elysia was puzzled,

"Then why are you still unhappy? Is there another reason for your mood today?"

Tarquin's frown deepened. Keith was only a small part of the problem; the real issue was Elijah's mother!

But he didn't know how to explain this to Elysia...

Suddenly, Elysia asked, "Are you facing a financial crisis?"

If it wasn't Keith, then money issues were the next logical conclusion.novelbin

"Did you lose money in some business deal again? I have money! I haven't touched what you gave me; it's all yours!"

Tarquin looked at her, touched and also pained.

She was so careful with her money, and yet she was willing to give it all to him. If that wasn't love, he didn't know what was! Yet, he didn't know how to respond to her affection.

Tarquin shook his head, "I'm not in a financial crisis. Don't worry. Let me take you home to change."

He attempted to leave, avoiding the topic of Elijah's mother, wanting to escape the conversation.

But Elysia wouldn't let him, grabbing him tightly,

"We need to clear things up tonight!"

"Elysia..."

"Please, don't scare me, okay? I don't like Keith, not one bit! I like you! A lot! Please, let's talk, okay?"

Tarquin was stunned.

Elysia, cheeks flushed red, looked at him determinedly, her resolve firm as she played the voicemail on her phone for him!

She was shy and easily embarrassed, but she couldn't continue in this vague state with him any longer.

She was unhappy recently, and so was he. It was better to clear the air once and for all!

Perhaps the rain outside the car window gave her courage.

Or perhaps his unusual behavior ignited a sense of urgency in her. She needed to express her feelings, to understand his thoughts! She played the voicemail again, her heart racing with anticipation.