"You're going to put a rift in your marriage for these people, Kiana?" Janelle asked incredulously. Kiana picked up a toy from the living room's floor and placed it inside the ottoman beside Janelle's propped feet. Kiana took her place beside her friend on the couch. "I understand how you feel but you will regret ostracizing Sawyer like that. You don't owe those people shit but Sawyer—that's your man. Don't do him like that."
Kiana rolled her eyes at her obvious "Wine Tipsy" bluntness.
Kiana had just told her that she hadn't slept in their bed in two days. She even moved a couple of her things into the guestroom. They hardly spoke to one another. After the first day or so of feeling upset, it just became easier not to speak. His words and actions from that day constantly sat heavy on her chest despite his apologies. He had threatened her agency, almost put her in jail and reduced her power in their relationship. He had created an imbalance while upset that she couldn't forget.
"I know." She whispered. "I just..." Kiana sighed and folded her legs under herself. "I don't like where we are right now and I'm trying to fix it on my end but I think I'm finding it more comfortable to run from the problem instead."
"Well—" The front door opened and Kiana warned Janelle with wide eyes. Janelle immediately shut her mouth and grabbed her glass of wine to busy herself. Sawyer walked in from the foyer with a light huff. He adjusted his work satchel on his shoulder.
"Hey." Kiana greeted.
"Hey Sawyer." Janelle said. Sawyer walked over to give Janelle a hug and light kiss on her cheek.
"Nice to see you, Nelle." He replied. Everyone could hear the exhaustion in his voice. He moved in for Kiana and she awaited her cheek peck but he only aligned his lips with her ear. She furrowed her brows expectantly.
"Wrap it up, send her home and come see me in the office for a minute." He whispered. Kiana looked at him inquisitively when he pulled away. After all they'd discussed about him barking things at her, he thought that was a good idea. "You heard what I said." He confirmed that he, indeed, thought it was a good idea. He stalked upstairs to see the twins.
Kiana returned to Janelle when he was finally out of sight. Janelle held a tight lipped smirk and knowingly shook her head. She swallowed the rest of her Merlot and placed the empty glass on the table.
"I'm gonna go then." She reached for her keys and tried to stand. Kiana held her arm to keep her in place. Her expression was scarily stone.
"You're not leaving until I tell you to leave." Janelle gave her a chastising look. It was more than clear her loyalty lied with Sawyer in this situation.
"Kiana, you need to stop treating Sawyer as if he wouldn't flip this whole damn world upside down for your ungrateful ass. If he had sat on his hands when you came home with a split on your fucking cheek, you'd have something to say about that, too." Janelle tried her best to whisper but she was riled up and somewhat annoyed with her best friend. "Go talk to him and fix this shit."
Janelle snatched her hand from Kiana's grasp and the momentum forced Kiana to fall forward on the couch. She put her hands in front of herself to break her fall. Janelle put a kiss on her forehead and then disappeared out the front door.
Kiana marched through the house with purposeful steps. She walked into the office to see Sawyer facing her head on. He'd heard her temper tantrum style stomps and awaited her arrival. Kiana closed the door behind her so that the girls wouldn't hear them.
"Why do you think you get to decide when my guests leave? Didn't we talk about this?" Kiana was livid. As soon as she started to think that maybe she was making the wrong choice by putting a block between them, he'd proven her right with his arrogance.
"This is your last night doing this." Sawyer replied calmly.
"Doing what?" She spat. She crossed her arms over her chest expectantly.
"Whatever this shit is. The silent treatment, staying in the guestroom, not letting me touch you shit. It ends today. So, say what you need to say to me and we will move on." Kiana's eyebrows rose and she fought a smile.
"And if it doesn't end today?" She pressed.
"We need to start talking about other living arrangements for the next few days." Kiana knew him well enough to know he wouldn't ever put that out in the open unless he meant it. He wouldn't hold the idea of separation over her head unless he was willing to make it happen.
Kiana swallowed the lump in her throat and shifted on her feet.
She uncrossed her arms for a moment and then decided that she had no idea what to do with them. So, she crossed them again. Blinking back her tears was the only mechanism she had left to keep her from falling apart.
"What?" She croaked. Her angry façade was splitting at the seams. She'd gotten instantly small and frightened at the thought of losing Sawyer.
"I'm not going to let you disrespect me in my own home, Kiana. If I make you that unhappy, I want to leave. We can try to share the girls throughout the week." Kiana's breathing shallowed. "I married you because of the passion and the love and respect we have for each other. It's selfish to say but if we don't have that and I can't get it back out of you, I don't want to stay."
"I—" She swallowed. 'Sawyer—I don't— I thought it was just an argument I didn't— " Kiana paced toward the window.