Restriction

Chapter 4

When I said I'd do anything to save my marriage, I meant it. Or at least I thought I did. . .

My breathing was shallow, painful, as I sat on the edge of our bed, 5:30 am flashing continuously against my eyes. Henry slept beside me, peacefully, his eyes shut closed, his curls brushing against his eyebrows.

It's funny really, hilarious, how I was even considering such an agreement. But Henry . . . how could he even suggest such a thing? Yet somewhere in my torn heart, I found space to understand. Marriages get boring sometimes, who knows, maybe after the first fling he'll get over it and he'll fall in love with me again.

Henry was all I've ever known. My first date, my first kiss, my first time. I get it that he may be a bit bored right now, so I would allow him this, but I refused to take part in it.

A marriage with multiple partners.

I'm sure it's not unusual, nor unheard of... .by the time my mind had ceased tormenting me it was already 6.

For the first time, I didn't feel like warming up to Henry. I just wanted to leave

Boo, are you still coming to do your hair today - Hairdresser

Oh yeah, I'll be over later tho, after work.

Girl, you know damn well that ain't a problem, I'll see you. - Hairdresser

I get off the bed and make my way to the bathroom, my face was a mess. Tears were dried, and eyes were crusty. I got out of the attire I had from last night and slipped into the bathroom. About five minutes in, Henry also slipped in from behind me. To my surprise, with no questions asked, he did something he hadn't done in months.

He made love to me.

- - -

"Are you sure you're okay Cooper?" Ben peeks into the office once more and I give him a look.

"I'm fine Ben, get back to work please." He did so, leaving me in my peace. It wasn't exactly peace since my mind was all over the place. I have never felt so lost, nor disheartened. It bothered me a whole lot, what Henry had proposed, but I believe that this will turn things around for us. He'd see for himself that there was no one else like me.

"Cooper, Good morning." Denzel pushed through the doors.

"Good morning," He handed me a cup of coffee. "Thanks."

"You look a bit tired, is everything okay?"

"Yea yea, everything's fine." I smile and he nods.

"Very well then, I have a potential employee coming in today, I need you to interview them."

"Oh. . . Okay, no problem." He serves me a grin.

"I love working with you. I hate when I have to babysit and coax people into doing their own job. Thanks, Cooper."

"You're welcome." I murmur softly, with a short nod.

He continues to look at me, before sighing and exiting the office. I didn't pay much mind to him, but rather my phone was ringing, and Henry's name laid across the screen.

Excitement flowed through me as I tapped accept, and pressed the phone against my ear.

"Hey Cooper, are you okay?"

"I'm fine honey," I internally scream. "How about you?"

"I'm good, look I won't be home tonight okay? So don't wait up, and don't worry if I don't come home."

"Oh... well . . . alright."

"Remember, you can't tell anyone about this arrangement."

"Yup."

"And try to have some fun too, okay? I love you."

"I lov-"

click.

Work was never a place to break down, especially with Ben eyeing me like a hawk, and Denzel being my new temporary boss.

I didn't need to seem like an unstable employee, I had to be professional and master my emotions, and that's why I did. I refused to sulk, or even weep. I just kept working. After all, I have no reason to be sorrowful, I was saving my marriage.

#

"Close your eyes," he instructs as he opens my side of the vehicle.

"What?"

"Close your eyes." He says once again. A bit curious, I do as he says, and he takes my hand, leading me into a building.

"You're not gonna kill me, are you?" I ask jokingly, and he only chuckles. I was gonna comment on this, but the sound of loud barking, and the smell of urine hit me first.

"Where are we?" I wanted to peek, but he had placed his hand over my eyes for certainty. "Henry."

"Relax dear," he says soothingly. The smell was a bit much, and I knew we were surrounded by dogs since the barking was now uncontrollable and excited.

He uncovered my eyes and I then saw that he brought me to a shelter. My eyes watered immediately, as this was once of the things I had expressed interest in.

"I cant believe it," I whispered, slowly stooping near one of the barking dogs. It was brown, and covered with dark spots. It wagged its tail furiously at me, it's tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth. "Hi there,"

I reached my hand in, when Henry suddenly pulled me back.

"Hey, it might have rabies or something."

"Aw Henry, live a little." I pull him down to stoop next to me, and push his hand into the gate. He was a bit afraid, and the pup inside tilted his head at him before full on charging at the gate, startling Henry.

I couldn't help but laugh, as Henry, narrowed his eyes at it, and reached his hand in to pet it.

"You can give it a bath if you'd like? He's clean, as in no diseases od such." One of the supervisors suggested and I glanced at Henry. He grinned, then I grinned. I'm pretty sure the pupper grinned too.

______

"Busy night tonight Cooper?" Denzel asks as I rush to my vehicle.

"Kinda," I reply, stopping at my car door. "What about you?"

"Oh not really, just about to head home and listen to Kansas." He chuckles.

"You like Kansas?" My eyes widen.

"Nah, there's just this one song that I've been hooked on for days."

"Let me guess," I smirk, leaning on one hip with my hands on it. "Dust in the wind?"

"How'd you know?"

"That's one of their most popular." I reply. "Its typical."

"Hmm, I guess i'll have to play it at our business party this Friday?"

"Business party?"

"Yea, to welcome me to the company."

"Oh, I wasnt aware of that. Of course you can."

"And please, bring along your husband too. I'd love to meet the man who snatched such a lovely soul."

For the first time, I didn't feel very excited when he asked me to bring along my husband. I forced a grin and nodded.

"I will."

"Have a Goodnight Cooper."

"You too Denzel."

I watched as he sauntered to his car that pulled up in front of him in less than five seconds. He got into the back, and waited. I was a bit confused as to what they were waiting for, but I didn't want to look like a creep just standing there so I got into my vehicle and drove away. Glancing back, it was then that I noticed that he was moving out too.

He must've been waiting for me to leave.

____

"Slayed. Periodt." Camry, my hairdresser announces as she finishes spraying my hair. 3-4 hours of weaving, a sore butt, and tired eyes later, I was slaying. No doubt. "Oo girl, Henry will have a fit. You out here looking finer than wine."

I chuckle, handing her her p*****t and she leaves to out it away before returning.

"I'm gonna head out now, thanks Cam, you the G."

"Girll ain't no question about it. Move along now. Get home to hubby." She smacks my butt and I roll my eyes playfully before heading out of her small apartment, and back into my car.

My phone began to ring.

My first thought was that it was Henry.

Maybe he was home and had changed his mind? Maybe he missed me? Maybe he was calling to tell me that everything he said was a lie and there was this reason that would make everything make sense.

But it wasn't him.

"Denzel?"

"Cooper, I'm sorry if this is weird. It probably is, I mean it's two in the morning. What am I doing? Listen I'm sorry again, you should-"

"What is it?" I ask him, and he sighs.

"Are you hungry?" He asks, and I raise an eyebrow.

"Maybe." I mutter curiously.

"Let's go get something to eat." He suggest.

"Now?" I ask a bit surprised, staring at 2:25am that blinked on my dashboard.

"Right now."

"That's crazy," I breath out, amused. "But okay, give me 15 minutes."

"Really? Great then, meet me at the 24/7 pancake hut."

"Gotcha."

- - -

"I'm sorry if this is inappropriate, I'm sure your husband was questioning you non stop. I'm not sure what I was thinking." Denzel said as he pushed the door open for me.

"Oh no he's fine." I reply, stressing on the 'fine.' "He's not even home so."

"Really? At this time?"

"Working late," I shrug weakly and he raises an eyebrow.

"Uhuh. . " I stay quiet, hoping to drop the topic and he did. Thankfully.

We placed our orders of two stacks of chocolate chip pancakes, and two cups of hot cocoa. Not sure why we had the same order, but I'm just glad I was getting food. We sat at a booth, and it was a bit awkward for a while.

"So, new hairstyle?"

"Yea," I run a hand through my Brazilian silk weave. "You like?" I tease and he nods.

"You look beautiful." Now I wasnt expecting that. I froze, uncertain of how to answer. My eyes darted to the table, as I tried to conceal my smile.

'Thanks." I clear my throat and he grins.

"So, where are you from?"

"I'm from here, but I moved to New York a while back with my step mother." He explains. "My dad was busy with his business, and I was still quite young so I decided to go with her."

"They're divorced?"

"No. Still striving. She has a boutique down in New York, so she stays over there, but their visits are pretty frequent. They see eachother like every week or so, compliments to the private jet."

"Ah, wealth." I nod, and he nods also.

"You don't look very poor," he catches himself. "Not that I have anything against poor people it's just that-"

"I get you," I chuckle. "I'm not poor, but at the same time I'm not on your level either."

"Think of me as someone normal right? Not someone with billions of dollars in their back account."

"I'll try." I shrug, a small smile on my face as the food arrives.

"Enjoy loves," the waitress smiles at the both of us, before nodding and leaving. She stared at Denzel a little bit longer but that was expected, he was handsome.

"So, tell me about you Cooper."

"I hate that question," I reply rather bluntly. "I never know what to say, or how to answer."

"How about, you ask me what you wanna know?" I suggest instead

"Fair enough," he shoves a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. "Do you like your name?"

"My name?" I raise both eyebrows. "I do, why?"

"No it's just that, it's mostly a Male name so. ."

"I believe Cooper is quite unisex if you ask me. I love it."

"I love it also, it suites you." There he goes again. I clear my throat and look down at my pancakes.

"How old are you?"

"23."

"Mm, how old were you when you got married?"

"I was 21."

"That's pretty young," Denzel says, with a surprised expression.

"Yea well, I thought I was in love."

"Thought?"

"I am in love." I correct myself, wondering where such an expression came from. "I am. . In love."

"Alright." He replies a little skeptically and I frown, slowly chewing my pancakes.

As if he sensed the falling mood, he quickly began to ask more questions.

"What's your favourite food?"

"I've got a thing for peanuts and raisins. Maybe cashews too."

"That isn't food." He deadpans.

"It's edible isn't it," I purse my lips playfully and he rolls his eyes.

"Sure, sure. I'm more of a steak and potatoes kinda guy."

"You look very much so." I reply and he chuckles. Silence falls, and this time it's a bit more comfortable. I look around the diner to find that it was mostly empty except for a young man who seemed to be most content on his own.

"Where are your parents?" He asks suddenly, and I push my plate away, feeling full.

"Oh, they're around. I guess," I reply with a shrug "My dad's a mechanic. . And my mom's a librarian. We aren't really that close but I see them now and then."

"Any siblings." I shake my head.

"My older brother went missing when I was about 16 or 17, was never found."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he sympathizes quietly, carefully placing is hand on top of mine.

"Nah, that's alright. You learn to get over it after a while." I was quite distracted by the heaviness, and the warmth the played on top of my hands.

He flags the waitress and pays the bill before outstretching a hand to pull me out of the booth. We walk outside, the sun coming up and I groan.

"Gotta get ready for work." I sigh and he winces

"I'm sorry, I cant believe I let this happen."

"Its fine, I had a good time."

"Are you sure?" With a gentle smile, I nod at him and his face relaxes. "You can work a less today, and leave earlier since the party is tonight. Dont take it for a habit." He says playfully, flicking my nose and I chuckle, slapping his hand away. Its then that I realize that we were in fact, still holding hands.

I release them quickly.

"Married, right." He states and I bite the inside of my cheek.

"Well. . . I'll see you soon. Thanks for this. Thanks for calling me."

"The pleasure is all mine."

I smile once again, before turning and heading back to my vehicle, and eventually, driving home.