From the Damage 1 - Opposites Attract by Jasmine Denton, Genna

reasons why a long time ago.
    When he reached the house, he stormed his way through the mass of people and found Shane standing in a crowded hallway.
    “Where is she?” Fuming, Gage scanned the hallway and found no sign of Peyton.
    “Look, man, I don’t know how to tell you this—”
    “Where is she?”
    “In the bedroom.” Shane pointed to the door across the hall.
    His heart quivered and swelled so much he thought it would cry. “Please tell me she’s in there alone.”
    Shane shook his head slowly.
    Gage shoved the door open and searched the room. The sheets on the bed formed a twisted mess with the blanket, where a guy he didn’t recognize was lazily sprawled in his boxers. Across the room, Peyton stood in front of a mirror, fumbling with the buttons on her blouse.
    Gage’s fingers curled into a fist as his eyes traveled from the bed to Peyton.
    Her beautiful brown eyes widened when they met his in the mirror. She whirled around, flashing him a look of complete fury. “What are you doing here?”
    The guy on the bed glanced up at him. “Dude, get out—”
    Gage shot him a look that sent the color draining from the guy’s face.
    He sat up and found his jeans in a rumpled pile on the floor. He slid into them, then, hugging his shirt to his chest, he edged toward the door. “I’m just going to…um…yeah…” He sprinted past Gage and out the door, happy to still be alive.
    “What are you doing here?” Peyton barreled up to him. “Where is Lizzie?”
    “Were you worried about that five minutes ago? What about last weekend, when you didn’t come home at all? Were you worried about Lizzie then?”
    Peyton’s eyes glazed over, a look Gage knew meant she was fighting tears.
    He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. She didn’t writhe or tug against him; instead, she dipped her head and let him haul her outside to the car.
    Gage struggled to keep his temper, but the angry words spilled out of him.
    “What the hell are you doing? Did the words ‘and forsake all others’ mean nothing to you?”
    “Gage—”
    “You promised me! You looked me in the eyes and took a vow.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter and refused to look at her. If he did, he would puke. “I didn’t marry you because you were pregnant, Peyton. I married you because I’m in love with you. What the hell is going on?”
    “You know what—”

    “Some snobby bitches say mean things about you, so you go and make them true? It doesn’t make any damn sense.”
    “Say mean things?” She repeated incredulously. “Gage, you know they’ve done a lot more than that.”
    “So what?” He punched the dashboard, exasperated and furious and confused and unable to do anything about it. “That’s no excuse to destroy our marriage!”
    “I’m not destroying—”
    “Yes you are.” He whipped the car in a turn, causing Peyton to sling back and forth in the seat. “How much longer do you think I can put up with this? I had to wake Lizzie up and drop her off with a babysitter in the middle of a cold winter night to drag your ass out of a party—out of bed with some other guy! This goes way beyond white trash, Peyton.”
    She buried her head in her hands and squeaked, “I’m sorry.”
    “Sorry doesn’t cut it. Sorry doesn’t do shit.” He took a slow breath to calm himself. “I’m sick of this, Peyton. I want my family back. Just grow up.”
    “Grow up. Grow up? Everything’s always so easy for you, isn’t it? Gage ‘the strong one.’ Gage ‘the tough guy.’” She shook her head to keep the tears from falling.
    “Nobody messes with you because everyone’s afraid of you. You don’t know what it’s like to be the doormat.”
    “I’m sorry things are easier for me, but it’s not like I haven’t tried to help you with this. I’ve asked you and asked you to switch schools or get your GED or—”
    “Let them win? No way!”
    “It’s not a contest, Peyton! This is our life.”
    She fell silent then