“She wants you.”
“You’re already up.”
“She’s been with me all day.”
“Yeah, but you know how to calm her down.”
So I took her back.
One evening, we were getting ready for Ryan’s company dinner. After twenty minutes of trying to make myself presentable, I pulled an old black dress from the closet.
It had always fit perfectly.
That night, the zipper stopped halfway up my back.
I sucked in my stomach and tried again.
Nothing.
Ryan stood behind me adjusting his cuff links. I caught his reflection in the mirror.
“Attraction matters.”
“You know I love you,” he said, “but attraction matters.”
I turned slowly.
“What?”
He shrugged.
“You became a mother, not an old woman. If you keep letting yourself go, eventually I’ll have no choice but to leave. You should respect your husband enough to stay beautiful for him.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misunderstood him.
