Chapter 11: Adjustments

Morning light streamed through the hotel suite's large windows, casting a golden glow across the room. Earl woke slowly, disoriented, his head still foggy from a night that left him uneasy. He turned over, his body heavy with a familiar discomfort, and found Evelyn beside him, curled into his side, their bodies tangled under the sheets. Her warmth pressed against him, but it didn't bring him any real comfort—just another reminder of the situation they were stuck in.

Careful not to disturb her, Earl slid out of bed. The cold air hit him immediately, a sharp contrast to the heat trapped under the blankets. He grabbed a robe and headed to the bathroom, trying to shake off the unsettled feeling gnawing at him. The marble floor was ice beneath his feet, grounding him as he stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water.

Standing under the spray, Earl let the water run over his face, but it didn't wash away the thoughts racing in his head. He kept replaying everything—his past, the promises he'd made to Nathalie, the vows he had sworn would never be broken. And now here he was, with Evelyn, a woman he barely knew, but was married to. Everything felt off, and he couldn't shake the weight of it. This wasn't the life he had planned.

When he finished, Earl dried off and slipped back into the robe. He stepped back into the bedroom, where Evelyn was just waking up. She smiled at him, sleepy and soft, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.

"Good morning," she said, her voice a little hoarse from sleep.

"Morning," Earl replied, his voice flat, already looking away. He moved to the small table by the window, where room service had set up breakfast. Pastries, fruit, and coffee—nothing special, just part of the hotel's service.

Evelyn sat up, pulling the blanket over herself as she stretched. When she saw the food, her smile widened. "You ordered breakfast? That's really sweet of you."

"Figured we'd need something to start the day," Earl muttered, shrugging as if it was no big deal. He sat down at the table, already pouring himself a cup of coffee, focusing on anything except her.

They ate mostly in silence. Evelyn tried a few times to start a conversation, mentioning how beautiful the hotel was, how nice the gardens looked from the window, but Earl gave only short answers, never really engaging. She was trying—he could see that—but he couldn't bring himself to meet her halfway. His mind was still locked on everything he'd left behind, and the guilt clung to him like a shadow.

After breakfast, Evelyn suggested they go for a walk around the hotel grounds. Earl agreed, mostly because it was easier than sitting in the room with her awkward attempts to make small talk. They headed outside, into the well-kept gardens. The air was cool, the flowers bright and colorful, and the sound of fountains filled the quiet between them.

Evelyn reached for his hand as they walked, her fingers brushing against his. Earl stiffened, hesitating before letting her hold it, but he felt nothing. No spark, no connection. Just another reminder that their marriage wasn't built on love, but on circumstance.

"This place is beautiful," Evelyn said after a few minutes. "It feels like we're getting away from everything."

Earl kept his eyes forward. "Yeah, it's nice." His voice was distant, uninterested.

Evelyn tried again, her tone light. "It's peaceful here. I think we could both use a bit of peace, right?"

Earl didn't respond. He wasn't in the mood for conversation, not about peace or anything else. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts, too focused on keeping his distance. She didn't push, but he could feel her frustration building. She wasn't stupid. She had to know he wasn't emotionally present.

As they walked deeper into the garden, Evelyn opened up more, talking about her love for art, her plans for opening a gallery one day, and the paintings she was working on. Earl gave short, noncommittal responses, more focused on keeping his guard up than actually listening. He could tell she was trying to connect, trying to build something between them, but it wasn't working.

After a while, they stopped near a fountain, the sound of water trickling quietly in the background. Evelyn turned to him, her face hopeful, her eyes searching his. "This place… it feels like a little escape from reality, doesn't it?"

Earl shrugged, looking away. "Maybe."

Evelyn took a breath and reached for his hand again. This time, he pulled away, letting the distance grow between them. He wasn't ready for whatever connection she was trying to build. He didn't know if he ever would be.

"I know things are complicated," Evelyn said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I just want us to… I don't know… make the best of it."

Her words hung in the air for a moment before she leaned in, kissing him softly at first. Earl kissed her back, almost out of obligation, but there was no passion behind it. It felt empty. When they pulled apart, she looked at him, her expression a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"I didn't expect this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Neither did I," Earl admitted, though his voice was cold, detached. "It's… complicated."

Evelyn nodded, her smile faltering. "I get it. It's not easy for either of us."

They walked back to the hotel in silence, the brief touch of their hands now completely gone. Evelyn's attempts to connect had fallen flat, but she didn't seem ready to give up. Earl, on the other hand, couldn't shake the feeling that they were just going through the motions, playing out a story that wasn't theirs.

Back in the suite, the atmosphere was tense. Earl sat on the sofa, his posture rigid, his eyes distant. Evelyn sat next to him, closer than he wanted but not close enough to push away. She kept trying, talking about small things, asking him questions, but Earl's responses were clipped and brief. He didn't see the point in pretending things were fine.

After a long pause, Evelyn finally asked, "Do you want to talk about how you're feeling?"

Earl glanced at her, his face unreadable. "Not really."

Evelyn let out a soft sigh, her shoulders sagging. "I think it might help if we talked, even a little."

"I'm just trying to get through the day," Earl replied, his voice almost mechanical.

Evelyn's eyes flickered with disappointment, but she pressed on. "I know this is hard for both of us, but we can't just ignore it. We're married now. We have to figure this out, together."

He didn't respond. He wasn't ready to open up, not to her, not to anyone. It was easier to keep things locked away, to hold everything at arm's length.

Evelyn placed a hand on his knee, her touch light but firm. "I'm here, Earl. I'm trying. We're in this together, whether we like it or not."

Earl glanced at her hand, feeling the weight of her words, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. The guilt over his broken promises to Nathalie, the reality of his new life—it was all too much. "I just need space," he muttered, pulling away. "I'm still figuring things out."

Evelyn nodded slowly, her face a mix of understanding and disappointment. "I get it. I'll give you space, but please don't shut me out completely. We have to make this work, somehow."

As night fell, Earl retreated to his side of the bed without another word, keeping his distance. Evelyn, though discouraged, lay down beside him, her hope dimming but not yet extinguished. She wanted to believe they could find a way to make this marriage work, even if Earl's heart wasn't fully hers.

But as the silence stretched between them, both of them lying in the dark, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how hard she tried, Earl was always going to keep her at arm's length. And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to realize that trying might not be enough.