All Chapters of Teach Me How to Love You: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

After Alan left, I called Noah, still buzzing about the blog. As soon as the line connected, I launched straight in."So I started a blog. And it's actually making money.""Which blog?"I hesitated. "The thing is, I'm writing it anonymously. Knowing you might read it would kind of ruin the whole point. It's where I share all my secret thoughts.""Since when do we keep things from each other?""Since I married your boss," I teased, and that got a laugh out of him."For the record," he warned, "if I ever stumble on it, no matter how careful you are, I'll know it's you.""Sure. That's if you ever look up from your computer long enough to find it.""I'm trying to get a lot done. My leave's almost over.""Are you happy to go back?""Yeah. Weirdly, I missed it. Something strange happened, though." He sounded puzzled. "I got a raise. While still on leave.""Keep enjoying the perks of being a brother-in-law," I teased. "Your sister's the boss's wife now."Just then Lory threw my bedroom door

I got the flower for Alan, and Lory wouldn't let me hear the last of it the whole way out of Nana's shop.His last text only made it worse. He'd sent an update that he was about to head into the meeting, and hopefully there'd be cause to celebrate.Because I had told her the celebration of the last contract was the reason we ended up sleeping together, she teased me mercilessly over it, saying Alan would definitely win the contract, so I'd better be ready for round two.She even stopped at the mall, trying to drag me in for lingerie and waxing and God knows what else, because the last time must have caught me off guard, so I needed to be all set for this one. I had to beg before she finally drove off.When she pulled up outside the house, I already had a hand on the door, halfway out before the car fully stopped. She'd tormented me enough for one day."You can never go wrong with red lingerie. Brings even the most prudent man to his feet," she called out, laughing, as I rushed for the

My cheeks hurt from grinning, and still I couldn't stop, rolling from one side of the bed to the other.I had no idea what Alan's room even looked like. But the flower I got him was in there. I knew exactly how dumb it was to be glad about something this little. I just couldn't help it.I went back to sleep deciding on what to wear to the party.Morning came and I dragged myself to the gym early. Did thirty minutes on the treadmill, then went to the kitchen for water. Surprisingly, Alan was there, all dressed and ready for work."Good morning.""An hour in the gym, Nora. At least.""Who said I didn't do an hour?"He recited my exact minutes on the treadmill. Down to the digit."Wait." I squinted at him. "How do you know that? Is there a camera in there?"A low chuckle was all I got."Why are you even up? You just got back. Don't you think your body deserves some rest?""Something needs my attention." He rinsed out his cup at the sink. "I'll head out now."At the doorway he stopped. "F

Alan dropped me home first. He didn't say a word the whole ride. The way his hands gripped the wheel, knuckles pale, took whatever courage I had to ask what was wrong.When he pulled into the driveway, he nodded toward the door, engine still running, my cue to leave. He was pulling off again almost before I'd shut the door behind me.I stood there, staring at the car disappearing down the street. Running through every version of bad news my head could cook up. Whatever it was, my gut had already decided it was awful.Inside, Peggy kept me company while I waited, going on about her day. I barely heard a word. My silence must have worn her down, because at some point she said goodnight and went up. I moved to the living room and kept waiting.I fell asleep on the couch without meaning to.One in the morning when I opened my eyes. Alan still wasn't home. I figured he wasn't coming, and dragged myself upstairs to bed.I was fresh out of the bathroom, my eyes closed, just drifting, when a

Alan's head was bent against the steering wheel when I got in. I waited patiently on the passenger side, not uttering a word.Eventually he lifted his head, glanced my way, and muttered, "You can't drive," before he started the engine and pulled out.Back home, he walked straight to the couch and dropped onto it, his eyes shut immediately.I sat facing him, thinking maybe I'd try to talk to him, get something out, but his breathing evened out before I could get a word together.His whole body had that loose, wrung-out look, like whatever fuel he had left, he burned the last of it just getting us home.I went up to my room and buried myself in the blog, my own version of coping, but I kept coming down every so often to check on him.At some point the gaps between checking got shorter, because I started worrying he'd slept too long. It didn't help that he had nothing all day but water. I decided to go wake him, get some food into him at least.I came down the stairs and my steps slowed