Chapter 8
Elle
As soon as she left the room, she knew she had fucked up. Bad. If she weren't too proud, she would have turned around immediately and apologized, but she was too proud. Too proud, and too busy. She jumped into the shower and washed away the anger and forced herself to stop thinking about how rude she had been. It was going to be easier to deal with after work, she reasoned.
Elle had never been terribly good at apologies. She didn't have many people to apologize to, aside from her parents, and when they were around she rarely did anything to upset them. No, the last time she apologized to someone, it was… him. The shadow in her past. The bad memory she just wanted to forget, and the reason that she couldn't let herself like Troy.
When she liked someone, she went nuts, and she couldn't risk that happening again. Not when her career could be at stake.
Her wedding ring was already an annoyance. The way the diamond jutted out from the gold made it so it scratched against the wall when she slept and caught in her hair when she ran her fingers through.
Just one more crappy thing about that crappy relationship. She was ready to call it quits, but it was much to early to even see the finish line. A whole year of suffering through his beautiful face? The thought horrified her.
Aunt Viviana texted her as her family was boarding the plane, while she was at a red light before she got to work.
It was good to see you. Remember what I said. Marriage is so important. No pressure, lol. I'm rooting for you guys! You can text me if you need someone to vent to.
Elle had never really considered her aunt as someone worth talking to, but she was beginning to understand why she drank. Having a husband was hard, and it was even harder since she married into his drinking problem. She knew, then, that her aunt picked up the habit from him.
She wondered what she might pick up from Troy.
Thanks. I'm sure I'll be texting you a lot over the next year.
She hit send just as the light turned green. She didn't know how she was going to make it up to Troy, but she somehow had to apologize to him. I'm not usually so emotional or easy to anger. What has gotten into me lately?
On the weekend, she worked 3 to 10 both Saturday and Sunday. She didn't make a lot at the hotel, only 9 dollars an hour, but she wanted to keep her independence. It scared the hell out of her that she could lose her house and her inheritance at any moment.
“Hey, Elle!” The girl at the front desk called. “Good to see you! I hear you got married yesterday. How come you're already back? Shouldn't you be on a honeymoon or something?”
Elle smiled at Clara. She was a sweet girl, and only recently turned 18. Her father owned the hotel, so even though she made a lot of mistakes, she never got yelled at. Not that very many people did. Her manager here was a lot more lenient than the head librarian was. “Nah, no honeymoon for me. Trust me, coming to work is a much wanted reprieve from being around my new husband.”
When she said the words, it was like a shock to her system. It suddenly became real, that she was married. She was no longer Elle Holbrook. She was Elle Whitemarsh.
“I see! My mom says that a lot, too, when she goes on long vacations by herself. She's in Hawaii right now, actually.” She stepped into the back room to grab her purse and coat, then clocked out. “So, I'll see you later! Congratulations, though.”
“Thanks,” Elle answered, watching as Clara left.
The day went about how you'd expect. Those staying at the hotel came and went, enjoying their stay in beautiful Sedona. They snapped pictures of the lobby, which Elle deftly avoided for the most part. They swam in the pool, they walked around taking photos of cacti, they complained about how hot their room was, they complained about having too few pillows, they complained about… well, they complained about everything.
Still, Elle would rather deal with their complaints than go home and swallow her pride, apologizing to Troy.
As her shift ended and she was replaced by the girl who worked the night shift (a terminally shy girl with worse anxiety than even Elle, but a nice girl nonetheless), Elle found a text on her phone. It was from Grandma Rosa.
Troy's birthday is on Friday! You should set up a surprise lunch! Don't want you to miss work again, but you have to take care of your husband too!!!
Smiling, Elle nodded. Perfect! That's how I can apologize for being such a bitch. I'll be nice for the next few days, and then surprise him with a party. Hopefully, he's the kind who likes surprise parties.
She left the hotel, feeling lighter than when she arrived. She would buy some of that beer he liked, the expensive kind. A hefty sum had hit her bank account the day they got married, so she could easily afford nicer things. The local pizza place should make him happy, too, she thought. I'll invite his grandma, and mine, so it'll be a small party.
When she got home, she found the house dark and quiet. There was a light coming from underneath the guest bedroom's door. She knocked on the door and Roman barked (using his inside voice, like a good boy), but Troy didn't answer.
She knocked again.
“Go away.”
“I just wanted to apologize.”
“Thanks. Now go away.”
Maybe it would be harder to get him to forgive her than she expected. I really fucked things up this time, she thought, and that bothered her more than she expected. She wanted him to forgive her and go back to being nosy and bothersome. She didn't want to be shut out.
Stepping away, she went into her bedroom. He had cleaned up for her after she left, making her bed too. His tidiness must have come from being in the military.
She went to sleep earlier than normal, trying to think of ways to make him forgive her for being such a jerk. The only ideas that came up hinged on that surprise party. It was important to really impress him.
Troy
As soon as his eyes opened on his birthday, Troy's mood was foul. The blackest of clouds hung over him as he showered, dressed, ate, let his dog outside. As usual, Elle slept in much later than he did. That gave him time to realize that if he had to deal with her before his mood lightened, he would only argue with her.
They had been avoiding each other for days. Ever since that fight, Troy hadn't felt up to making things right with her. He hated the silence that hung between them, but at the same time had no idea how to fill it.
As far as he knew, they had nothing in common except that horror TV show they watched before their first big fight in the house. He didn't know what hobbies she had, other than being a jerk to men for no reason. He didn't know what she wanted out of a husband. He didn't even know if she preferred roses or carnations, so he couldn't buy her flowers to apologize for an argument he didn't start.
I'm just not a very good husband, he thought with a shake of his head.
He filled the silence by using the money in his account to join a gym. He quickly made friends with some of the other men that lifted there. There was a surprising number of ex-military in the gym, lifting weights and staying fit. He spent his dinners hanging out with them, eating meals cooked by their girlfriends or wives. Wishing he could return the favor.
It was easy enough to explain that he and his new wife were going through a rough patch. A few of them even said they went through the same thing, and that he shouldn't worry about it. They didn't know the whole truth, though. They had no clue how weird their situation really was.
One of the men, Sam, was single and probably didn't have plans later that day. Sam was one of the friendlier guys at the gym, and immediately offered to spend time with Troy as soon as he explained what happened to get him discharged.
Troy gave him a ring. If anyone was going to be free, it would be Sam. The guy had all the makings of a new best friend, which Troy was sorely lacking after Jack fucked things up royally.
“Hey, man. It's a bit early to be calling me to come spot you.” The man's voice sounded tired.
Troy chuckled. “Yeah, that's not why I'm calling. Look, it's my birthday and I'm in a shit mood. I don't want to make things worse with Elle. Mind me coming to chill at your house for a while?”
“Not a problem, but I have some stuff to do. Think you'll be okay until 5 or so?” That was why Troy was glad he made friends easily. Other men, especially single ones, were always ready to drop everything and help their friend out. Friends forged in the gym were especially helpful.
“Probably. Text me your address.”
Sam agreed. “Bring that dog of yours. He can play with Marley.”
“Roman practically goes everywhere with me,” Troy said. Marley was another Rottweiler and German Shepherd mix, with a kind and quiet temperament. Sam brought the dog with him to the gym, which gave Troy the confidence to bring Roman.
“I figured. Marley was like that with me when I came home, too. Anyway, see you at 5.”
They hung up, and having plans that didn't involve sitting home with Elle, but being unable to talk to her, lightened his mood immediately. If he could spend time with other men, it wouldn't bother him so much that Elle hated his guts for absolutely no reason.
It wasn't like it was Troy's fault they were forced to get married. She should be mad at her grandmother, not him.
Obviously, it wasn't her fault, either. And deep down, he understood why she was so upset, or at least he thought he did. It was hard to go from independence to living with some strange man. Even worse when that man was a husband that was forced on you.
So he couldn't hold her anger against her, but he could still demand some damn respect. He wondered at her working so hard even when they had so much money. He hadn't had a job in a long time. Would I feel better if I had something to do, something to structure my time? It would be hard for him to overcome his fear of women, especially without his pills.
I have to fill my pills. Fuck.
He heard the shower turn on, telling him that Elle was awake. He didn't want to even chance a confrontation that might throw him back into a black mood, so he grabbed Roman's leash and headed out the door. A run would do him some good. He could clear his head, plus he could finally fill that prescription his psychiatrist had given him. He didn't want to have a breakdown.
He also decided, then, that he was through with putting up with shit from Elle. If she wasn't going to be nice, neither was he.