Overwhelm Me by A. C. Marchman Page B

humiliated by my actions. My dad would have killed me if he knew I was sleeping with a married woman.”
    Okay, I can understand that, but can I handle this? Tears prick in my eyes as I look at Donovan.
    I have a terrible feeling about something. “Did she kill Frank because of you?” I whisper as tears start to flow from my eyes.
    Donovan breaks our eye contact and stares down. “Honestly, I don‘t know. She never came out and said it. I mean, she acted the part of the grieving widow in public, but with me, it was like she was a different woman. I didn’t know she had actually killed him until she was arrested. We had been screwing around for years, but I saw her with Frank, and there was never any malice towards him from her. Allie, I really don’t want to talk about this now, please,” his voice sounds quiet. anguished and on the borderline of rage. I see him shaking with anger, and I shudder. I excuse myself to go to the restroom and stand. Donovan stands as well. I don’t know if it’s from his Southern politeness or if he’s trying to stop me from taking off. “I’m fine, I just need to go to the bathroom,” I say as I turn away from him. I glance back towards Donovan and see he’s almost crying. God, that’s hard seeing him so tortured. I just need a few minutes to process this.
    I don’t want to run, but this is a lot of baggage to take on. A famous woman may have killed her husband to be with Donovan, and he screwed her while she was married? I’m so confused. I find the restroom after a minute of roaming around the restaurant.
    I step in, and the bathroom is just as stunning as the rest of the place. It’s clean, with giant vanities and smooth leather couches. I walk into one of the stalls and grab some toilet paper to dab my eyes. Should I let this deter me from Donovan? It’s not like he is the one that cheated; he just couldn’t resist the attention Claire Dubois gave him. But do I want to take on a man that has such a past? Can I tolerate knowing a man might have been murdered over Donovan? I know that Donovan is being honest with me when he tells me she is history, and I’m sure he feels a tremendous amount of guilt. But he is not responsible for Claire’s actions. She acted alone without Donovan’s help. He didn’t know she was going to do what she did.
    I compose myself and go to wash my hands. I look at my reflection in the mirror and sigh. No, I’m not as beautiful as Claire, but I’m also not as crazy. If I want to be with Donovan, I will have to take on his past. Is he worth it? Yes, I know he is. I just have to get over Claire. She’s not going to mess with our lives. She’s in prison for God’s sake. I smile, knowing my decision is the right one, and I walk back to our table with my head held high.
    Donovan jumps up as soon as he sees me come back. My eyes are downcast when I sit, and my hands are twisted in my lap. He scoots closer to me and slips his hands on mine. In response, I look up at him. His eyes are a bit red, and I think he has shed a few tears. It rips my heart out seeing him that upset. I give him a tight lipped smile and run my fingertips along his smooth face. My Adonis takes my hand and kisses my palm. I start to speak just as Maxwell comes back with our food. He sets our plates in front of us, refills our wine, and asks if we need anything else. Donovan politely says no, and our server is gone again.
    I start again, “Donovan, I don’t want you to think I will run from you. I know you have some skeletons in your closet, but I will wait around and listen to them when you want to speak of them. I can’t condone an affair with a married woman, but I do know you were young and wild.
    Who wasn’t? You have your head on straight now. We all make mistakes, God knows I have.
    So, I can move past this. Just know that it may take some time for me to adjust to it.”
    I take Donovan’s sculpted face into my hands and kiss him, just to let him know I’m in this