How Was It
I stayed in the bedroom longer than I needed to, trying to convince myself it was okay to step out. After all, Cullen had made it clear, he wasn’t going to touch me. He wasn’t going to hurt me. At least not now. That counted for something, didn’t it?
Eventually, hunger outweighed the hesitation. I needed food.
I opened the door and padded out into the living area. And there he was. Cullen was already having breakfast.
There was no knock on the door. No “Hey honey, breakfast’s here. Do you want to join me?” Nothing. Just him, calmly eating like this was any other normal morning.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Would it have killed him to tell me? To invite me?
But of course, that was wishful thinking. Cullen wasn't the type to do that. He looked up and saw me standing there.
“You want some?” he asked, as casually as someone might offer a stranger a bite of their sandwich.
I forced a smile. “If you don’t mind.”
“Of course, I don’t mind. It’s a lot for one person anyway.”
I walked over, helped myself, and sat at the far end of the table, putting as much space between us as I could. We ate in silence. Awkward, heavy silence. The kind that settles between people who are supposed to be close but are anything but.
A few minutes later, Cullen stood up abruptly, catching me off guard. He washed his hands, wiped his mouth, and said,
“Okay, I’m out of here.”
I blinked. “Where are you going?”
He let out a laugh, but not the kind that made you feel warm. It was dry, sharp, almost mocking.
“I see you’re already practising being a wife.”
I flushed red with embarrassment. “No, I’m sorry… it’s just... this is my first day here, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “It’s fine. Those nosy ladies are gonna come in here, want to see the sheets and all that shit. I’m not staying around for that.”
My stomach turned at the thought. “Can I come with you?” I asked quickly. I didn’t want to be here for that either. I didn’t even know what they expected me to say or do.
“Nah,” he said casually. “Somebody’s gotta stay here.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure what else to say.
“Yeah. I’ll see you downstairs. Gotta go meet someone.”
And just like that, he was gone.
No goodbye. No glance back. Just the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me alone in the silence, again.
I was surprised by how much lighter I felt after Cullen left. Without him there, I didn’t have to worry about whether I was eating too loudly, or too fast, or if I was somehow annoying him just by existing. I simply ate in peace. And once I was done, I turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. I couldn’t seem to concentrate on any of them, though, and was just about to give up when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out.
To my surprise, it was my mother-in-law. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Instinctively, I stood up and turned to face her.
“So,” she said, eyeing me curiously. “How did it go?”
My entire face flushed crimson, and I suddenly found myself tongue-tied. She raised her hand gently, signalling me to calm down, and walked straight into the bedroom.
When she came back out, she looked… satisfied. Happy, even. Then she said, “Alright, let me go let those naughty women inside.”
“Where’s Cullen?” she asked over her shoulder.
“He said he was going downstairs to see someone,” I replied.
She shook her head slightly and went to open the door.
Almost immediately, a group of women....five, maybe six, if you counted Bella streamed into the room and made a beeline for the bedroom. I didn’t want to be there to witness their reaction when they saw that. Who would want to see that anyway?
But I guess this was my life now. My family. My tradition.
Bella didn’t go into the bedroom. Instead, she walked over and sat beside me. I was still standing, but when she sat, I followed her lead and sat too. The two of us just stayed there, silently listening to the women's excited chatter behind the bedroom door.
I had no idea what they were thinking until they came out, one of them triumphantly holding up a sheet, which I assumed was the sheet, the one with the blood. Then, predictably, the questions started flying.
“So tell us the details! How was it?”
Another chimed in, “How was he? He always gives me this vibe of a vengeful, hurting character from my stories. I swear, I picture him like that every time!”
My mother-in-law immediately cut her off. “ Hey! That’s my son you’re talking about.”
“Ew! You’re married, Gilda!” someone teased.
“Oh, sorry,” Gilda stammered, her face turning bright red.
The youngest woman stayed behind, still twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and curiosity.
“I know you can’t tell us the details,” she said, leaning in a little, “but come on, give us something. Give us something....” Her voice drifted off and her expression turned distant. “Forget about it.”
Then she snapped back and smiled eagerly. “Was it good? Was he thoughtful? What was it like?”
I felt the dread rising up in my chest. My pulse pounded so loudly that I was sure they could hear it. How was it?
I hadn’t even allowed myself to imagine what sex with Cullen would be like, not after what happened. I hadn't thought of him that way at all, and now, suddenly, I had to pretend I had. I had to conjure up some believable version of intimacy between us.
My eyes flicked to my mother-in-law, hoping, she’d intervene and stop this madness. This was her son they were gossiping about, after all. But when I met her gaze, I saw it: the same curious glint as the others. She wasn’t going to stop them. She actually wanted to hear what I had to say.
Technically, maybe I wasn’t breaking Cullen’s trust. I mean, if we had actually slept together, I’d have every right to share that. But we hadn’t. And now I had to lie. I had to create something that didn’t exist.
“It was… good,” I said finally.
Gilda raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed. “Good?”
“Yeah, it was good,” I repeated, but even I could hear how hollow my voice sounded. “I’m sorry. I just… I can’t do this.”
“Okay, leave her alone,” Bella said, stepping in quickly. She moved to my side and wrapped her arms around me in a soft, unexpected hug.
I froze at first, but then she whispered into my ear,
“I just got a sister.”
Something about the way she said it, soft, genuine, unexpected made me wrap my arms around her in return. I didn’t really understand her, or what exactly she meant, or why she was hugging me… but in that moment, I let her.
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