"He doesn’t like being challenged," Aaron says. "Especially in front of other n."
I look down at my hands only to see my fingers are still shaking
He stands carefully and rolls his sleeve back down.
"You don’t owe an apology," he adds. "You didn’t pull the trigger."
I look up at him. "But I caused it."
He doesn’t answer that.
Instead, he reaches for his jacket. "You should go before he cos looking."
"I will," I say. "I just needed you to hear it from ."
He nods once. "I heard you."
I turn to leave, then stop at the door.
"Aaron?"
"Yes."
"I’m glad it was your arm," I say quietly. "Not your head."
Despite himself he lets out a full bellied laugh. " too ma’am, too"
————————————————————
I don’t see Zane all day when I wake up the next day.
Not at breakfast, not in the hallways. I keep my head down and stay in the kitchen with Margaret because it’s easier there. The work is simple and and doesn’t shoot freakng guns at people.
Margaret doesn’t push , she hands vegetables to wash, herbs to strip, bowls to carry from one counter to another. When my head swims, I lean my hip against the counter and pretend I’m just tired. She notices anyway. She’ll pause mid-task and slide a stool under without saying a word.
"You’re doing just fine, sweetie." she tells at so point, not looking at . "Just don’t rush."
"I’m not," I say, even though I am.
My arms feel heavier than they should. By the ti we’re done prepping for dinner, my shoulders ache like I’ve been lifting sothing far bigger than onions and pots, I’m getting weaker as the days go by. When Margaret finally wipes her hands on her apron and turns to , she frowns.
"That’s enough for today."
"I’m okay," I say automatically.
She doesn’t argue with , She just steps closer and puts an arm around my back,and before I can protest she’s guiding out of the kitchen.
I don’t realize how unsteady I am until my feet drag.
Aaron appears like he’s been hovering nearby the whole ti. His arm is still wrapped, the fabric stained faintly pink near the elbow. He looks at Margaret, then at .
"I’ve got her," he says.
"No, you don’t," Margaret replies. "You’re injured yourself. "
"I can walk,I’m totally fine." I mutter, embarrassed.
Margaret ignores and scoops closer, my arm slung over her shoulder. She’s stronger than she looks apparently. Aaron trails behind us anyway, hovering, opening doors, pulling them shut again. Every ti I wobble, he reaches out like he’s ready to catch even though Margaret’s holding just fine.
We pass through a quieter wing of the house, away from the polished floors and wide windows, the staff quarters are warr and more lived in. Margaret settles on a narrow couch and straightens my collar like I’m twelve or sothing.
"You sit and rest." she says. "I need to run out for groceries."
"You don’t have to....."
"I do," she cuts in, gentle but firm. Then she looks at Aaron. "Keep an eye on her."
He nods imdiately. "Of course."
Margaret leaves and shortly afterwards a small group of girls who look roughly about my age co into the room. They’re sprawled across chairs and the floor, laughing about sothing before entering the room. When one of them looks up at she grins widely
"Ouuuuuuuuu you are the wife," she says, with a mischievous grin on her face.
I wince. "Elaine."
"Cool. I’m Tessa and that’s Lila and that one over there pretending not to stare is June."
June flips her off. "Og fuck you i wasn’t staring."
They make room for without fuss,soone hands a bottle water, another hands a throw blanket because apparently I look cold, slowly the knot in my chest loosens a little .
Sowhere in between the lines, the girls find music and start dancing to it. Barefoot and uncoordinated laughing when they bump into each other. Aaron watches from the doorway, arms crossed, smiling despite himself. His injury doesn’t stop him from clapping along when we finish.
Ti slips by so fast without noticing. The light outside fades and soone drags chairs onto the patio. The air is cooler here, We sit in a loose circle, legs tucked under us and our shoulders touching.
Lila pulls sothing from her pocket and raises an eyebrow. "Anyone mind?" It’s a blunt.
I hesitate. I’ve never smoked, not once in my life. My head still feels light and I know I shouldn’t, but curiosity wins.
"I’ll try," I say.
They pass it to with instructions that make them laugh when I cough. It burns and I hate it at first but then my limbs start to loosenNd the ache dulls. Music plays from soone’s phone and suddenly we’re dancing again, slower now, laughing at nothing.
For a while, I forget where I am.
When it’s fully dark, I sit on the steps and watch the others sway under the string lights. Aaron sits beside , quiet.
"You good?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say, and this ti it’s mostly true.
For the first ti since the wedding, the house doesn’t feel like it’s swallowing whole.
Zane’s POV.
I get ho later than I planned. The lights are off in most parts of the house, when I get in I drop my keys on the console and stand there longer than I need to.
She should be upstairs.
I didn’t see her all day and that was intentional. I had etings back to back and I didn’t want another argunt sitting in my chest while I dealt with investors.
I tell myself it doesn’t matter. We’re not sharing a bed and this marriage isn’t real anyways and She’s free to sulk wherever she wants as long as she follows the rules I gave her.
Still, my feet take upstairs and to her side of the wing instead of to my room.
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