Chapter Text
"I think we should open our relationship"
Words that Lucy never thought she would hear especially not from her husband of 3 years. She thought they were good, the alternated making dinner every day, they went for a walk in the park every Sunday morning followed by breaksfast at a place Chris really loved, Lucy wasn't a huge fan of it but it made Chris smile and she liked seeing him smile. Every Thursday their shifts got over early so they would come home and binge watch true crime documentaries while earing horrible take out on their couch. She thought she had met her person, her equal, someone who she was going to share the rest of her life with.
"Lucy?"
She looked up from the coffee mug she was gripping onto for dear life with glassy eyes and a coice that refused to come out she hadn't heard a word he had said after the words open relationship ,"what?" "I've been trying to get your attention for a minute", Chris said She opened her mouth but her throat was too dry to say anything.
"What?"
She felt like a broken tape recorder. She stomach felt like she had been through the scariest roller coaster if her life. She tried to get some sort of composure and respond to the most absurd thing her husband had ever told her.
"Lucy", he held her hand,"you know I love you right? You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen I mean you are way out of my league and the fact that you choose to stay with me evry single day", he sighed and smiled at her that stupid smile which Lucy used to love so much, "baby this ain't you this is me!" He sat next to her wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "You know the things I told you about college right? I was this kid no one liked and no one wanted to speak to I got rejected a million times and no hot girl ever paid any attention to me.", he brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Yes, he had told her this when they were dating it was one of his biggest insecurities and Lucy had spent days if not weeks reassuring him that he was worth it that she loved him that he deserved love. She cooked his favourite meals and remembered small details of his life to make him feel more important because that's what he was to her important and she wasn't going to give up on him ever!
"Then why?" Her voice broke she cleared her throat and tried to get her breathing under control,"why are you doing this to me? Why do you want to open our relationship? I thought we were happy"
"We are happy baby we are very happy I want to spend the rest of my life with you, you are my dream girl my friends constantly tease me about how I pulled someone like you. You are an actual godess of a woman but these few months since I've been going to the gym and I got that big promotion ,women are paying attention to me! Just yesterday I was at this coffee shop and this hot blonde was there with her dog and I complimented her ......she smiled at me Lucy and ....and this is all I ever wanted since college....I was an ugly kid so I didn't get a chance to sleep around and just change girlfriends but now I have a chance to do that I don't think I should let it go. That wouldn't be fair to me I deserve this"
Lucy pulled her hands away and created distance from him,"you are married Chris! You are married to me! You made vows for better or for worse we sre supposed to be together and now some blonde with a dog gives you a smile and you are ready to throw away everything we ever worked for?"
"I'm not throwing anything away honey we are still together we are still married....it's just an open relationship....for a couple months till I flush it out of my system and then I'll come back to you ....most men would've cheated but I'm one of the nice ones I would never do that to you"
"So what you want me to give you permission to cheat? That Hey Chris go fuck around live your college dreams and I'll be waiting here for you barefoot with your favourite dinner?"
"This is not only for me honey it's for you too you can date other people as well. You don't think I see it? The waiter at th pe restraunt we always go to he has gien you his number twice! And your friend Aaron the guy you work with he constantly spends time with you it's obvious he has a thing for you"
"STOP! I have never encouraged any of this Chris! I have actively shut it down and I have always been loyal to you, YOU KNOW THAT! "yes I know you are the perfect girl but now you don't have to be so perfect anymore you can rebel a little go out hook up with some strangers" "What if I say no?"
"Lucy .....baby....I really respect you I do ...but I need to live this part of my life with your permission or without" "The. We are done let's get a divorce" "And what will your parents say? You already disappoint them enough do you really want to disappoint them more"
"How dare you"
"That was out of line my love I'm sorry", he cupped her cheeks kissing her.she looked away, he tightened his grip turning her to face him kissing her deeper,"I'll tell you what you can make ground rules any form of ground rules I'll agree to it and say in about 8 months we close it back and we go back to being the perfect couple." Lucy stared at her hands, she shut her eyes swallowing her tears
"Alright .....but it's for 6 months ...not 8"
"Thank you love you are the best you are my dream girl I love you" After 2 hours The rules were set. Chris nearly jumped on her kissing her hard like a little boy who had gotten evrything he ever wanted for Christmas
"I don't deserve you Lucy" He grabbed his ohone and headed to the couch Lucy could see above his head as he downloaded dating apps and started registering for them. She stood up shakely heading to thier master bed room gripping the wall because her legs were about to give out. She shut the door behind her sank onto her knees and started bawling.
After a while the tears stopped, she opened her phone and hovered over the contact of Jackson. She sent him a single text about what was happening with all the rules they had come up with .
1. No mutual friends or acquaintances or anyone the other knows
2. Exactly 6 months from the date this set up would close no exceptions
3. Always inform the other before going on a date
4. No getting anyone home
5. STI\STD tests monthly
6. MOST IMPORTANTLY NO FEELINGS ATTACHED