Free Enduring Everything (Marked Heart #1) by M. Sembera Page B

his face.
    Without moving his eyes from the road, he replied, "Just drop it."
    "You're seriously mad because I didn't know you wanted me to do that today," I asked, getting a little irritated myself.
    Without hesitation, he griped, "I'm mad because you should want to do it."
    Rolling my eyes, I said, "Oh come on, I'm going to. I just haven't gotten around to it yet."
    "Whatever, don't do it then," he snapped.
    Giving Jacks a dirty look, I folded my arms against my chest before turning and staring out of the side window on the way back to work.
    ~
    By the end of the work day, I was glad we had taken separate cars that morning because Jackson was being ridiculous about something as silly as the name on my driver's license.
    Everyone except Jackson and I had left for the day when I stepped into his office.
    "I hope you know what an ass you're being, see you at home," I shared before turning to walk out.
    "I hope you know that I am choosing not to call you what you are being," Jacks replied, causing me to change my course from the door and head straight to his desk.
    I snapped, "Well, aren't you being the bigger person."
    Jackson stood up from behind his desk and stated, "Thank you."
    "I was being sarcastic," I replied before saying, "And I can't believe you are mad at me for something so stupid."
    His frustration was clear as he made his way around his desk to me, informing, "Our marriage license was at the house when we came home. You had all day Friday and you could have gone during lunch any day this week. There's no reason for you to still have Herterand on anything of yours."
    "Of course you feel that way, now that we're married all you have to do is keep being you," I fussed.
    "You don't want my last name?" he questioned.
    Rolling my eyes I thought, 'what a dumb ass question'.
    Everything I had, from my house papers all the way to my electric bill had the name Herterand on it. It wasn't like I couldn't let go of it, there was just a lot to do changing everything over and I didn't think it was the emergency Jackson was making it out to be. I assumed I could tend to it at my leisure without the man I was getting naked with every night being all sensitive.
    Deciding I was done with our discussion before it crossed the line into a full-fledged argument, I turned and walked out of his office.
    Almost at the door, I stopped when I heard Jacks say, "Hey."
    With a heavy sigh I warned, "I don't want to talk about it anymore."
    Stepping in front of me, he grinned, saying, "I love you see you at home," before he kissed me.
    Unable to keep from smiling back, I said, "I love you too."
    Wrapping his arms around my waist, Jacks offered, "Let's make up."
    "I'll see you at home," I laughed.
    Pulling me closer, he coaxed, "Come on, no one else is here. We can go into my office," as a wide smile spread across his face.
    "I have to go and so do you," I reminded.
    Jackson hesitantly nodded bef ore giving me another kiss goodbye and letting me go. Walking out to my car, I laughed to myself, thinking that was our first argument as a married couple.

12
    The Conversation
    The Roberts' house was unusually quiet when I arrived. Emerson and all of their kids, except for Lola and Charlotte, were at the Rec Center for sports night. Lola was sick, so she was already down for the night and thankfully Charlotte was upstairs in her room. Too bad out of sight wasn't out of mind because Charlotte was the topic of the evening.
    Sighing for around the twentieth time , Amila shook her head after explaining all the problems they were having with Charlotte.
    Giving a sigh of my own, I said, "Well, it sounds like you and Emerson need to just lay down the law with her and if she refuses to obey..."
    "Ren you don't understand what all has happened to her. Its beyond hurt," she interrupted.
    Clearing my throat, I asked, "Amila, if I don't understand, how do you think I'm gonna help her?"
    Almost as if she was telling a secret, Amila replied, "Ren, you know Emerson