My CEO 244

244 I Want This Wedding (Winona)

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A week has passed since that night, since I heard Jayden say her name in his sleep. Ashlyn,

Even worse, he was having sex with her in his sleep, or whatever it was they did to require the use of his safe word. I'm rattled. I'm back to thinking that this is a part of his needs I can't fulfill other way

way,

It's been bothering me, like an itch I can't scratch. He hasn't mentioned her since, and in every he's been perfect. But that dream, the way he said her name, the small groan. The safe word. It's all still here in my head, eating away at me. I'm sitting across from Barnaby during my weekly therapy session, spilling it all out. I want to stop these sessions after I'm married. The way I'm going, the session will never end.

"I know it sounds crazy," I say, my hands twisting in my lap, fingers interlocked in a nervous knot. "I know he's dealing with a lot-Henry, the wedding, everything But why is he calling out to her, you know? Ashlyn? It's like... is he still in love with her?"

Barnaby listens quietly, as he always does, nodding every now and then to encourage me to keep talking. His eyes are calm, patient, and I know he's waiting for me to get it all out.

says, leaning forward a little, folding his hands on

emotions tied to her, especially since Henry's birth. But dreams are often just our mind's

shouldn't he be leaning on me for support? Not pleading with Ashlyn, someone who's gone. And then having sexual dreams about her. It just feels like... he's hiding something." "Have you considered the dreams might be less about being sexual and more about the control factors?" Barnaby asks, his pen tapping lightly against

that's possible." But I heard him. I saw

gently. "You and Jayden made a promise, didn't you? To be open and honest with each other, not to hide feelings. You've both come

carpeted office floor. "You're right, but I don't want to bring this up right now. The wedding's six weeks away, Barnaby. I've made up with Cass after our fight about

If anything, it'll eat at you until it comes out in a worse way. Don't underestimate the

fabric feeling like a welcome distraction. But Jayden's been so amazing. He's planned the entire wedding, every detail. He's so excited to finally have us all together,

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about his plans. Jayden's been stoked about it, calling venues, organizing the reception, even booking us a mini-moon since

present than I ever imagined, diving into this with

make him think you have trust

hands-on in ways I never expected. He even found a way to include Bobby and Sarah in the ceremony. He's planning to adopt them on the same day we get married. Like, sign the papers with them on the day."

can I be so selfish and petty?" I ask, leaning back into the chair, my hands dropping limply into my lap. "He's giving me everything I ever wanted with him. A family, a home, a life together. How can I throw something like

words hang in the air between us. His silence isn't uncomfortable, but it presses on me, making me reflect harder on what I'm

feeling something real something that needs to be addressed. Marriage

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