A quickie in the shower won't take long.
(ARIELLE'S POV)
Jared paused, and there was a momentary silence. "Why?" He finally asked.
"Because I don't want to. You can go with Sofia, I'm sure she will be glad to take up the offer."
"But Sofia is not my wife, Arielle," he protested. "You are."
"I have been questioning that lately as I no longer know my stance in your life. You let her do things and get away with them like she's the mistress here."
"Hey," Jared called and approached me on the bed. "I'm sorry-"
"That's the problem!" I exclaimed, threw the sheets off, and sat up. "All you say is sorry, sorry, and sorry. Yet, you make no efforts to change. I am sick and tired of listening to your apologies. You know why? Because your actions still repeat themselves." "Arielle, she's pregnant-"
"And that means her excesses should be condoned? You know what? I don't want to talk about Sofia anymore, because lately as husband and wife, we can't even talk without her being the subject of discussion. Good night, Jared," I said, and threw the sheets back on. Jared sighed in resignation and stood up from the bed. I heard him walk into the bathroom and soon the shower was running. I closed my eyes, and gave in to sleep.
************
"What do you mean you're not attending?" Ashley's berating voice sounded on the other end of the phone.
It was lunch break at work, and I had called her to inform her about Jared's request. I also told her about my response.
"I don't feel like attending the party," I insisted.
"You must be a joker. So, you're gonna let him attend his school reunion alone when he has a wife as elegant as you? Come on, Arielle. Do better!"
"I still don't wanna attend," I said, pouting my lips stubbornly like Ashley could see me. "He should consider that as his punishment."
"Is that what you think? What if he decides to go with Sofia?"
"That's even better," I retorted. "I already suggested it to him. Since he enjoys her company better than mine, he should go with her then."
"You foolish girl! The same woman you complain that she's taking your place in your husband's life, is the same woman you're pairing him with? Tell me, are you okay staying home while your husband is with another woman at a party you're supposed to attend with him? And this woman is not just any woman, a woman he had feelings for,for twenty years."
I paused at this point, letting Ashley's words sink in. Was I really making the right decision?
"And not just that, you won't know what they're doing together because you're not there. For all you know, Sofia could try to kiss him again -"
"That's enough, you didn't have to explain so explicitly," I interrupted Ashley, feeling a pang of jealousy.
"Oh, I had to. You needed someone to speak some sense into you."
"So what do you suggest I do now?" I asked, my thoughts conflicted.
"You, my dear friend, will tell your husband when he comes to pick you up that you've changed your mind. You're going to that reunion with him."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. And you should ensure that you look your best. Please wear your hair down, Arielle. No bun or ponytail today," Ashley instructed, like I had already accepted to attend the party.
Well, that was my best friend for you. The optimistic master planner who plans for the future even before its arrival.
"Alright. I will do as you've said."
"That's my girl. Fill me in on how it goes. I have to run now," Ashley said.
"Alright, talk later," I said, and the call dropped.
I felt a lot better after the call ended, and it was always that way whenever I spoke to Ashley. She gave the best advice, and like she would always say, she likes to save me from myself.
I looked up at the clock, and realized lunch break was over. It was time to return to work, I decided. But before I left, I called the cleaning agency fo confirm that they went to clean the house. Jared had driven Sofia to the
hospital today, so the house will be
free for the agency to do their job.
After confirming that they did go to clean the house, I walked out of the office and returned to work.
At the close of work, Jared arrived to pick me up, and Rebecca, her usual gossip self, came to inform me of his arrival. I parked up my things and walked out to join him outside. "How was work today?" Jared asked, as he took my hand bag from me.
"Great," I responded, sliding into the car. I asked about his day too, as it was our ritual to always ask each other.
"It went well," he responded and turned the car on, as he drove out of the compound.
"I changed my mind," I blurted, as we drove on the highway. "I'll come with you to the reunion party."
Jared was surprised, and it showed in the look he gave me. "Really? You changed your mind?" "Yes, I did."
"Thank you, Arielle. I feel so relieved," Jared said, and when I looked at him, he seemed honest.
Curiosity piqued, I asked. "If I had not come with you, what would you have done?"
He shrugged. "I would have gone alone."
I raised a brow. "Really? Wouldn't you have taken Sofia with you?"
Jared frowned, and gave me a quizzical look. "Why would I want to? The instruction was to come with our spouses, and the last time I checked, Sofia is not that."
"Alright," I responded, feeling a little warm on the inside. Jared nodded, and focused his gaze on the road. We didn't say a word to each other until we arrived home.
I alighted, and so did Jared and we
both walked into the house. Surprisingly, Sofia was not in the sitting room. And by glancing around, realized the house looked sparkling clean. The agency did their job so well, and I made a mental note to give them a five star on their page.
"Where's Sofia?" I asked Jared.
"In her room, I suppose," he responded, walking ahead of me.
I didn't press further, but followed suit. We got to the bedroom and began to take off our clothes.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
"We have to be quick, we have just two hours to prepare," Jared announced.
"Alright. Go ahead and bathe, while I pick my dress and accessories."
"No, let's bathe together. It will save time," Jared suggested, and I felt my cheeks go warm. We've bathed together as couples in the past, but
it was not a regular occurrence, and
I never got used to it.
"Alright," I responded, lowering my face to hide my blush.
Jared offered me his hand, I took it and we walked into the bathroom together, naked. We got into the bathtub, and he turned the faucet on. He turned to me, and his eyes darkened as they swept up my body. I might not be sure about Jared's love for me, but I was sure of how attracted he was to my body, and I loved the fact that he never hid it.
He closed the distance between us, drawing me into his arms, as his phallus pressed hard against my belly. I shivered, from the feel of his warm body close to mine, and the water cascading down our bodies. "J...Jared, we have just two hours to prepare, remember?" I said, as I felt his warm tongue on my earlobe.
"Shhh...a quickie in the shower won't take long," he whispered, and with that, he took my lips in his.