DEAD IN BED By Bailey Simms: The Complete First Book

PART 1, SECTION 5

First, I remembered that when my boss dropped me at home, Shawn was already there, watching TV, as usual. His station at the couch was pretty much the only place he spent time lately when he wasn't at work. He has a shift at the mill, which I know can be exhausting, but it'd been months since he'd been out. And lately he'd started saying he didn't want me to go out with any of my friends alone. One of the reasons I'd been looking forward to the fair for weeks was that Shawn wouldn't have any choice but to get off his ass and go somewhere. I'd been hoping that maybe we could have a little fun again, for once. 

"I'm getting in the shower," I called out, competing with the blare of Sports Center. "Ian's gonna be here in an hour, remember?"

After a moment, Shawn yelled back.

"Tonight? We'll go tomorrow," he said. "No one really shows up until Saturday anyway."

I should have seen this coming. If my husband never wanted to go out at all anymore, why would he ever go out for two nights in a row without complaining about it? I'd thought things would be different during fair, but I guess I'd been wrong.

I tried not to sound too irritated. "Everyone always goes tonight." I leaned into the living room and found myself talking to the back of my husband's head. He was only twenty-six, but his hair was already beginning to thin. "All your friends are going. And mine. Morgan's already there waiting for me. And Ian's coming all the way back in the middle of Tyler's football game just to give us a ride. It would be weird if you didn't go."

Before Shawn could respond, I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I hoped that by putting myself out of earshot he would give up and agree to just go without a fight.

While I undressed, I forced myself to look at the mirror. I'd definitely put on a little weight since high school, but not as much as Shawn had, especially after his accident. But I looked okay, I decided. Nothing like Morgan, who'd somehow stayed as skinny as she was at sixteen. But at least I looked okay.

While the water warmed up, without really meaning to, I started considering what my night out would be like if Shawn did just stay at home. I thought about having the chance to ride into town with Ian alone. I thought about doing shots with Morgan, just the two of us. Maybe it wouldn't have been the worst thing after all if Shawn didn't come. In the middle of washing my hair, I actually started seriously considered persuading him to stay home.

But by the time I got out of the shower I could hear him changing from his work clothes, and I decided not to say anything. I couldn't. Not after I'd already talked him into going. I'd feel too guilty if I did something like that, anyway. Besides, it would probably be good for us to get drunk together.

Ian pulled up to the house just as I was finishing with my makeup. I wore this new low-cut top I'd bought just for the fair and my tightest pair of jeans. Maybe it wasn't exactly what they were wearing in Denver these days, but not bad for the Muldoon fair.

I could tell my brother-in-law was in a hurry to get back before the end of the high school football game, but he was too polite to say so. As we came out of the house Ian kept his truck idling, sauntered over to Shawn, and slapped his shoulder.

"Hey, buddy, you all ready for tonight?"

"Yup," Shawn said. As always, Shawn was a little quiet and intimidated by Ian. "Ready to go."

"Hiya, sis!" Ian gave me a quick hug, then just as quickly he let me go and hopped back into his pickup.

Ian was in a good mood. On the way over he told us that Tyler got a touchdown, and besides being happy that his son had played well, he was looking forward to being out at the fair tonight too. I could tell.

"You sure you're okay not drinking?" I asked him. "I'm glad I'm not the one stuck driving."

I was glad Ian had offered to give us a ride, but the truth is I also liked how Ian got after a couple drinks. He'd been a medic in Iraq, and now he worked as an EMT at our tiny local hospital. When he got back from the war I used to worry he'd break down or something if he drank, but he never did. Mostly he just got less serious and his sense of humor would come out. I'd laugh at his wry jokes, and he always laughed along with me in this kind and warmly boyish way he had. He's actually really attractive—way more attractive than Shawn—but sometimes I think my sister doesn't even realize this. 

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