The Captain's Cold Aspen Revenge

rything. A week after our wedding, his young "mentee," Kloe, moved

000 handbag. Then, he demanded I give Kloe my high-perfor

d, he ripped

d as he walked away with her, leavin

ck in our hotel room, to get a separate room with Kloe

. I'm not just a wife. I'm Capta

ain. "I need a master key," I told her. "We're abo

pte

Payn

d, trickling down my temples. The air in our apartment was thick, suffocatin

the 'down' arrow, watching the numbers tick lower, 84, 83, 82. A small sig

he door made m

air, sharp and accusing. "What

my brow. "It's boiling in here, Gonzal

oe has a condition. She's extremely sensitive to c

grees. Nobody should be sens

at. "Her autoimmune disorder is severe. It's

ealth don't matter?"

her." He reached over me, his hand covering mine on the control

my face. "Gonzalo, it's ninety degrees

fy blanket, her eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Is there tr

mediately, his voice softening. "Am

ou know. The cold just... it sends me into

aste in my mouth. She was

ested, her gaze flitting to me then quick

ed. "This is m

. "Oh, I didn't mean... I just thought maybe for your comfort..

g her close. "She has a point, A

e just got married." My v

s feeling hollow. "And you're kicking me out of my ow

okay, let's not make a big deal. She's only staying for

We can go to that resort you wanted, just the

erity. He always knew how to dangle a carrot. "A

u, Amy," he insisted, his eye

it down. I always did. "Fine," I said, my voice tight. "I'm going to ch

damp clothes. As I turned to walk to o

lly can't be near any drafts. The guest room faces north, it's naturally cooler. So, i

, despite the sweltering heat. "A

dlike. "I get so scared alone, Gonzalo. Wit

"wellness influencer" with thousands of follo

just sleep on the couch, Amy. Don

or in my voice. "Or," I suggested, my words slow and deliberate, "Kloe could just share the master bedroom with

t want to intrude on your space." She shot a quick, nervous glance at Gonzalo. "A

that was still trying to be a good wife, wanted to believe Gonzalo was just being naive. But the other part, the