Page 17 of The Billionaire's Wife

“We can sit in the living room.” Scott shut the door. As he crossed the foyer, he paused at the stairs and hollered up them, “Whit? Tristan’s here.”

“I’ll be right down!” Whitney’s muffled voice was barely understandable.

“Are we interrupting bedtime?” Maybe I hadn’t thought this through as much as I should have. It was unlike me. But Faith tended to bring out all the things that most of my friends would consider unlike me. In my teens, I hadn’t been sure if that was good or bad. Looked like the jury was still out.

“Nope. Just after-dinner playtime. Beckett wanted to build a train. Whitney had to get the bin down for him. He won’t want her to stay and help—he’s been getting more independent lately. He likes to build the tracks then call us to come see them.” Scott took a seat in one of the living room chairs, leaving another chair and the couch available.

I wanted to take the other chair. Whitney and Faith could share the couch and that wouldn’t be weird, right? Or should Whitney get the chair? I didn’t particularly want to sit beside Faith. My nerve endings were all already on alert from the past three days in close proximity to her.

Faith’s elbow dug into my side as she slipped around me and sat in the chair opposite Scott.

Okay. That solved that.

I sat on one end of the couch and avoided meeting Scott’s gaze. He was looking at me like I’d lost a few marbles. And really, I couldn’t blame him. He’d said to sit and I’d stood there like an idiot trying to figure out where.

I raked a hand through my hair.

“So. What brings you to town, Faith?” Scott frowned slightly. “I feel like we’ve met. Were you at college with us?”

She shot a quick glance my way, eyebrows raised. “For a semester.”

I swallowed. I should have taken the time to explain to her ahead of this that I wasn’t sure about spilling the whole story. But apparently, at least for now, she seemed to understand.

“That must be it.” Scott smiled.

“Hi. Sorry. Beckett’s really into his trains right now. We should swap the bin out with something else so he can get to it on his own.” Whitney sat on the end of the couch nearest Scott and tucked her feet up under her. “I’m Scott’s wife, Whitney. This is a nice surprise. Do you want something to drink? Or eat? I can make tea. Or some decaf.”

I gestured to Faith. “This is my friend, Faith.”

“Could I get some water?” Faith started to stand. “I can get it if you don’t mind telling me where to find glasses.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Whitney uncurled and stood. “I’ll get it. Tristan?”

“Water would be great. Thanks.” It’d be something to do with my hands, if nothing else, although right now my throat was parched. Stress would do that.

“Sure thing.” Whitney headed into the kitchen, her voice raising as she continued talking. “Did you mention you were having company and I missed it? We probably wouldn’t have harangued you all weekend if we’d known.”

Faith cleared her throat. “He didn’t know. It was a spur of the moment decision. I just showed up on his doorstep and he didn’t turn me away. Which was nice of him.”

“It was.” Scott’s piercing look turned my direction before turning back to Faith. “Will you be in town long? You could grab a spare room at Jenna’s if you’re crowded. Noah has this huge townhouse and she’s living there on her own leading up to the wedding.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.” I offered him a tight smile. I understood what he was getting at, but he was one to talk. He and Whitney had lived together for several months—while dating—before they got married. Which, fine, nothing was going on between them. But it was the look of the thing.

Faith and I were married.

No one knew. But that was beside the point.

Or maybe it wasn’t.

Whitney returned with two glasses of water. She handed one to Faith and I took the other as she passed by me to curl back up on the couch. “How long will you be in town? We’d love for you to join us on Friday when the girls hang out. The guys play poker. Coffee at the bookstore is way better.”

“I…” Faith trailed off and looked at me.

“I’m helping Faith with some legal trouble. I’m not sure how long it’s going to take, honestly, which is part of why we’re here this evening.” After a moment of hesitation, I reached across the gap between the couch and Faith’s chair and patted her arm. I’d known better even before all the nerve endings in the left side of my body lit up from the brief contact. But she looked so nervous. I moistened my lips. “Two parts, actually, I guess. One, she could use a place to hang out during the day. It’s better if she’s not out touring DC or something. And I don’t want her to feel trapped in my condo. So I wondered if she could hang out here when I need to be in the office?”

Whitney’s eyebrows lifted. She shot a quick, confused glance at Scott. “Sure. We’re not all that exciting. Beckett has kindergarten until one. Then it’s a lot of trains or the park. Or both. Maybe some cartoons. You might be just as bored as if you were at Tristan’s.”

“I told him I’d be fine at the condo. He’s adamant.” Bitterness laced Faith’s voice.

---