The Insecurity Diary Chapter 2

The call was to announce a last-minute team dinner.

Annoyed, I reached up to twist my wedding ring... and my finger was bare.

I froze. I remembered the night before last. Things had gotten... athletic. I’d been afraid of scratching him, so I’d taken it off. It was still on the nightstand.

My colleagues were all texting their partners. I sighed and stepped into the hallway to call Arthur.

He picked up on the first ring, his voice low and smooth. "Eliza."

My face warmed. "Hey. I have a work dinner tonight. I might be late."

The line went dead silent. Not even the sound of him breathing.

I pulled the phone away from my ear. "Arthur? Are you there?"

"I'm here," he said. His voice was rough, like gravel, and there was a tremor I'd never heard before. "Do you... do you have to go?"

I was about to say yes, obviously, when he cut me off, his voice cracking.

"Will you... will you be coming home? Tonight? Eliza, are you coming back?"

"Of course I am," I said, completely baffled.

"You are?!" His relief was so loud it was almost desperate. He cleared his throat. "I mean, good. That's good. I'll wait up. Whatever time you get home... just... as long as you come home. I'll be here."

I was starting to get worried. "Okay... Can you leave the light on for me?"

"Yes," he said, instantly. "I will."