Married to the Bad Boy (Published, Sample Only)

Chapter 9

I was puzzled and didn’t know what to reply back to that. I never paid attention to what I was doing to him. “Never mind, sorry I said anything,” I told him as I lay back down, turning my back to him as tears started to fall. This was truly a mistake and I was ready for it to be over. I knew I couldn’t get over the fact that I was scared of being abused again, even if Brandon promised to never lay a hand on me.

I felt him move from behind me then said, “Kami, don’t be this way. I’m sorry. Please look at me.” When I didn’t, he continued. “It’s just taking a lot of adjustment being married. I’ve been so used to doing whatever I want, but now I have to stop and think about you.”

“Then don’t think about it. Just go do whatever you want to do. I’ll just stay here with your mom so there’s no need to worry about me,” I replied, trying to stop the tears from falling, feeling I had trapped him into this marriage.

He let out a loud sigh, as though frustrated with me. “Kami, we’re married. I have to think about you before doing anything. You’re my wife and I’m doing the best I can, to be the kind of husband people want me to be. It’s just hard.” He gently held my shoulder and made me face him. “Ever since that damn bathroom incident, you distanced yourself from me and I never understood why.”

Looking up to his face, I could see the hurt in his eyes. He knew I was keeping something from him.

I ended up telling him anyway. “You told that girl about the real reason why we got married. You told her about me being abused and how you only married me to keep me safe.”

“I never told anyone about you being abused, Kami,” he clarified. “Those who have asked, I simply told them it doesn’t concern them why we got married. Why would you believe them and not trust me?”

“Because she said you were together in the janitor closet right before it happened.” I might as well just let it all out in the open. “You were with another girl the same day you told your father you would be faithful, but that’s not why I’m upset. I could care less who you’re sleeping with. I’m just disappointed that you would tell them about my personal life.”  

His eyebrows met in concentration. “Kami, I haven’t been with anyone in about two weeks. If I have to do the math for you, that’s about four days before we got married. So yes, I have been faithful. Stop and think for a moment about the past week and a half and how I’ve yet to leave your side, aside from the times when you ran off without me. When you disappeared that day in the bathroom, I went looking for you. When my cousin April, Louis’ niece, showed up saying there was a girl unconscious in the bathroom, I ran in there and I saw you on the floor looking pale like the life had been drained from your body. I picked you up and took you to the nurse’s office and you know the rest from there.”

I just looked at him, thinking about how everything Jasmine had told me could be a lie. She was just trying to get the best of me, to put distance between me and Brandon. “I’m sorry. I should have talked to you about it first and not just assume you would tell someone.”

“It’s fine, but next time you need to talk to me about things. I can’t read minds, but sometimes I wish I could when it comes to what you’re thinking. It would make this marriage a lot easier.” He laughed, lying back down on the bed and looking up at the ceiling. “So much for sleeping in. What do you want to do today?”

Before I could answer, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Brandon said, looking at the door. His mother walked in holding a blue dress in her hand. “What do you need?”

“I need Kami. I want to help her get ready for Emily’s wedding this afternoon. Did you forget?” she asked him with a raised eyebrow. “She’s only your godmother and my dearest friend. Plus, it would be good showing Kami around to some of our family.”