Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Elle sighs. “I’m not brushing anything aside, Ben. I’m saying, let’s discuss this later, like after the first of the year. Right now, we need to go to the store and get some clothes to wear otherwise we’re going to freeze to death there.” She passes by me. When she gets to the end of the hall, she says, “Are you coming with me to the store?”
“No and the store can wait. It’s not going anywhere. Hell, I’m sure you can call, and they’ll send the entire store to you if you run out of time.” My steps are loud as I walk toward her. She backs up until we’re in our living room.
“I hate when you say things like that. You make it seem like I’m some spoiled brat.”
“Not my intention, Elle. But this is important to me. I’m tired of waiting for us to start our lives. I want to get married and start a family.”
“And we will.”
“When?”
“I don’t know, Ben. When I’m not busy,” she says. “When I’m not in the middle of trying to launch a tour for Plum and finalize a record deal for Talking Til Dawn. You know how hard I worked on getting these bands, I need to put my best foot forward and get their careers started.”
“I want our wedding to be a priority to you, Elle. Right now, it’s so far down your list, you make it seem like you don’t want to get married.”
“I do, Ben. I love you more than anything, but our lives are busy, and I really feel like you’re picking a fight for no good reason.”
I scoff at her words and shake my head. “Our wedding day is a good reason. Starting our lives together is a good reason. But if we have to wait for you not to be busy with work, then we’ll be waiting forever because you get busier by the day. Right now, my life is nothing but waiting for you. I wait for you to tell me where we are going and what we’re doing. I’m waiting for you to sit down with me and set a date, which is funny, because the date doesn’t even matter as long as it fits into your schedule. I’m tired of waiting, Elle.”
“Where is all of this coming from, Ben?”
I groan loudly and push my hands through my hair, rubbing the tension that’s suddenly appeared at the back of my neck. “Why can’t you see this from my perspective, huh? Why can’t you see I want a family with you? That I want to be your husband?”
“I do, Ben. And I want those things too, but not enough to cause World War III between us. I don’t understand how earlier things were fine, we were fine. One minute we’re talking about the trip to Vermont and the next we’re fighting all because this stupid magazine shows up.” Elle picks the catalog up from the table and throws it across the room.
“No, I was talking about getting the ball rolling on our wedding.” My head shakes back and forth. I draw in a breath and release it before continuing. “No, you told me we’re going to Vermont. You didn’t ask if I wanted to go.”
“Why would I ask, Ben? You’ve literally spent every holiday with my family since we were in high school. Why would I assume you wouldn’t go on this trip?”
Elle leaves and heads into the kitchen. She opens cupboards and drawers and then slams them shut before storming back into the room. “Know what I don’t get? Where all of this is coming from. Things are fine with us, we’re happy. We’re living a great life, why do you want to change everything?”
“I don’t want to be like your parents,” I tell her.
Her mouth drops open. “You don’t want to be happy? What kind of nonsense is that?”
I sigh and look at her. “You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure that I do. I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here because I don’t understand where all of this is coming from. Last week our biggest issue was whether you’re buying a gas or electric Range Rover, and now all of a sudden, it’s setting a date. Honestly, I’m confused. We agreed to a long engagement until our careers were where we wanted them to be. You’ve switched your career path from working for someone, to going freelance, to going back to corporate. That doesn’t seem settled to me. And now, you’re fighting with me about setting a date that may or may not work for the venue we agreed upon. More so, one that you chose. So, help me out here, Ben. Is there something else going on?”
I shake my head. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“About us?” Elle’s voice cracks.
“No, about a long engagement. I’m entitled to change my mind, right?”