Page 4 (1/2)

He tilted his head, scanning her face, looking for illness “Not ane?”

“Nope” She hated the spotlight on her, and she sipped her latte, hoping for a subject change

Not going to happen, she thought grimly as Josh asked, “Okay, so what’s up? It can’t be that you’re just tired You seem stuck in your head lately”

Of course Josh would have noticed any change in her er than soes lasted But that realization only stirred the sah her mind: Is this the life I want?

The sense of guilt stor across her when she saw the stress in Josh’s war she couldn’t avoid the conversation any longer They’d been high school sweethearts, and had even been voted the couple et married “Are you happy?” she blurted out

He bristled at her question “Of course I am”

Chloe noticed how he couldn’t look her in the eye She reached for his hand, wrapping hers tightly around his “Why haven’t you asked me to marry you?” She knew she held blame for this, too, as she’d never pressed the matter

Up until a o, that hadn’t seemed odd

A slow breath escaped his mouth “Chloe, that’s not fair You know I’ve been busy with university, law school, and settling into the firm”

She watched his every e seeray T-shirt and plaid shirt Suddenly it became clear that she and Josh had the same doubts “Is it that? Or do you not want to marry me?”

His chin jerked up, eyes pained “You know I love you, Chloe”

“I know you do And you know I love you, too”

Their fingers tangled together, and the heavy silence stretched out, speaking of so nore the giant elephant in the room and continue to live her life with Josh They shared a strong love, but passion didn’t exist in their lives She could count on one hand how many times they’d had sex in the last year—and whenever they did that particular deed, it began with an alcohol-fueled night That sort of life seemed unfair to both of them

Don’t we deserve passion?

He tightened his fingers around hers and she shut her eyes, willing herself strength At last she reopened theaze on her “I’m happy with you I’ether because it is comfortable and it’s e’ve always known”