Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Chapter 182

It was obvious that Tarquin had noticed Elysla too

He had another sleepless night, tossing and turning in his bed, haunted by the memory of their unexpected kiss in the grocery store. The thought of seeing her this morning to make breakfast for Elijah set his blood boiling with initation. He didn’t want to deal with her, and because of that, he’d tormented himself all night long, caught in a tug–of–war between reaching out and staying silent.

Finally, without contacting her, he succumbed to a restless night of Insomnia.

When dawn broke, he didn’t quite know what drove him, but he found himself dressing and heading downstairs. Not really knowing what he was doing, he lit a cigarette to pass the time.

Before he could even finish smoking. Elysia appeared. It seemed, perhaps, he had come down just to wait for her.

They stood there, locking gazes, neither speaking nor stepping forward. A standoffish dance separated by a mere twenty feet

After what felt like an eternity, a cool breeze swept by, provoking a sneeze from Elysia

She had been too frugal to take a cab that day, riding over on Blossom’s electric scooter, now parked just outside the complex. Only those who’ve braved the crisp, bitter momings on a scooter could truly understand the mix of pain and pleasure it brought Even bundled up in a mask and hat, the chill cut through her,

“Achool”

Another sneeze wracked her body, a telltale sign of a cold nipping at her heels.

Tarquin frowned at her condition, his resolve wavering. Eventually, he snuffed out his cigarette and took the first step towards her.

As he approached, Elysia’s heartbeat quickened, a reflexive urge to retreat bubbling up inside her. His icy aura felt like a confrontation waiting to happen.

Clutching the thermos tighter, she stood her ground, straightening her spine, refusing to show weakness. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she cower?

“Stand strong, and d your enemies weaken,” she reminded herself, clearing her throat and scowling as if to say, “I’m not afraid of you!”

Tarquin rolled his eyes and stopped in front of her. Noticing the thermos in her hand, his tone softened–relatively speaking, of course; he was still colder than most

“Bringing Elijah breakfast?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

Yeah.

let me know ahead of

do. I was just

to see me?”

blinked up at him, wordlessly questioning his blunt

not a monster, Elysia. As long as you don’t overstep,

“I haven’t overstepped!”

bar, and yesterday at the supermarket–expect them not to happen again. Your personal life is your own

at his words. Was he insinuating she was some kind of siren, luring men into her net?

and he enjoys it. That’s your doing. We’ll stick to our agreement: a day’s meal counts as a day off your debt. Once Elijah warhis up to

Elysia’s retort swallowed itself back down her throat.

“What do you

mean?”

ten thousand a day from what you

Elysia’s eyes sparkled.

before her seemed a

Chapter 11

potentar prosperity Pyret

કાચી કૂવોના કાને

કાકા ની કોર નું

win on

asked

responding Targum stride up the stars with

with the thermos in her

from

wife? What

Tarounmp

Elyta could

they continued