Chapter 93: Feigning Nonchallance & Acceptance
’Why didn’t I just go immediately?’ she groaned inwardly, cursing her luck. ’Why did I hesitate? Why did I let it get this far?’
"Go away, Alaric," she managed to call out, trying to sound calm even as her panic grew. But it was useless; she was trapped in here with her own embarrassment, and there was no easy way out.
"I just want to make sure—"
"I’m fine!" she snapped, a bit too forcefully. "I. Am. ’Fine’," she gritted out through clenched teeth, hoping he’d take the hint and leave.
But instead of hearing his retreating footsteps, there was a soft thud as he settled himself ’right’ outside the door. He wasn’t going anywhere.
’Oh no, please... please don’t sit there. Anywhere but there!’ She shut her eyes, cringing. The smell wasn’t helping her already frayed nerves, and there was no way she could face him after this. ’What am I supposed to do? I can’t come out now! It... it ’reeks’ in here, and he’s going to know.’
She groaned silently, leaning her head back against the cool tile. ’Just let him go. Let him get bored and walk away.’
But somehow, she knew better. Alaric, stubborn as he was, wouldn’t just leave. He’d wait, concerned, hovering right outside like the attentive husband he was, oblivious to the fact that his attentiveness was making everything worse.
’This is a nightmare,’ she thought, praying desperately that he wouldn’t notice the smell or, worse, comment on it when she finally had no choice but to emerge.