Brie
The sound of the doorbell repeatedly ringing forces me to open my eyes.
First of all, I hate whoever decided this place needed a doorbell, and second of all, I hate Kellan for not getting his lazy ass out of bed to be the one to answer it. It’s not like he’s the one with a life changing test to take.
I groan, stretch, and turn my head to snap at him only to find his side of the bed abandoned.
Where the hell did he go?
Before I have time to call out his name, a pounding on the door reminds me of the reason I woke up without Kellan’s promised assistance. I shove my glasses on my face and grab my favorite sweatshirt in route to the door.
Just as the knocking starts again, I swing it open, and snip, “What the fuck is your problem?”
Guy gives me a baffled look. “Why aren’t you dressed yet?”
“Because it’s ass early and not time.” His mouth moves, but I cut him off. “Why are you on my doorstep with three cups of coffee?”
He’s reluctant to answer. “Originally, I thought it would be a kind gesture to bring good luck beverages by. I assumed Kellan would be escorting you to the test center, but wanted to wish you the best as well in person.”
See. He really is a sweetheart.
“However, I’ve been banging down this door for the past thirty-five minutes…”
“What?”
“And your test is in less than twenty-five.”
“What!” Instantly my body flies away from him and to the kitchen where the nearest clock is. Seeing the time strangles a squeak out of me. “Holy shit!”
Guy enters the penthouse still puzzled. “Did you not set an alarm?”
“No!” I scream, scampering past him for my bedroom.
“That seems…irresponsible.”
Now is not the time to take his side!
“Kellan said he would wake me up!”
“With all due respect, knowing Kellan’s recent behavior, you didn’t think you needed a backup?”
No, because I thought I could trust my husband this time. In my defense I even started to set one, but he begged me not to. Begged me to believe he would never let me down in times of importance. Begged me to have enough faith in him to not need a backup system. God, I’m an idiot.
Hastily, I check my phone for some sort of message or warning that Kellan stepped out for just a minute, but there’s nothing. The lack of information boils resentment in the pit of my stomach. I grab a cream colored, lose fitting, off the shoulder summer dress from the closet and refrain from answering Guy’s question out loud. In record timing, I’ve changed clothes, brushed my teeth, and put my hair into a messy bun.
The moment I exit my bedroom with my phone in hand, I ask, “Did you drive here?”
“Yes.”
“Can you drive me there?”
“But your security detail protocol-”
“Fuck protocol today, Guy. I don’t have time! If I’m not there in the next fifteen minutes all the hard work I’ve been slaving over for the past five months was for nothing.”
He hesitates to comply. “You can always take the test again in August.”
Waves of consternation, aggravation, and heartbreak spin my mind in a cruel circle.
Do I really want to wait another three months to do this? Do I really just brush off the hours I’ve spent studying, memorizing, and researching? Do I really put my life on hold again because Kellan’s an asshole who can’t keep his word?
The last question causes me to sneer.
Screw doing this for him. I’m gonna go take that test for me. For my future. Whether or not we end up together, becoming a teacher is something I want. Where it happens…well that’s a question for another time. This one doesn’t have much wiggle room.
“I wanna take it today.”
“Brie-”
“Will you please drive me?” my voice pleads with tears sticking to it.
“Of course I will.” He nods, pulling his keys from his pocket. “Do you want me to wait in the lobby for you while you test?”
I grab my wristlet from the bar. “You don’t have anything else to do today?”
Guy shrugs. “I can move some shit around.”
“Really? You don’t have to. I can just-”
“It’s fine. It’s no big deal.” He offers me a small smile. “You need someone there for support. I care about you. It can be me.”
His words persuade the tears I’m holding at bay to fall. Quietly, I state, “Thank you.”
He doesn’t say anything else as he ushers me out the door.
Support…The thing your spouse is supposed to provide. The thing I’ve given Kellan endless amounts of from the first time he asked. The thing he swore he’d be here to deliver. I don’t know if I’m more upset that he’s not actually here or that I was stupid enough to believe him when he said he would be.