Page 94 of The Billionaire's Wife

I bit my lip and clicked off my phone. I didn’t know how to answer the question. Part of me did. I liked Tristan’s friends. And they seemed to be okay with me. He’d get annoyed with me for phrasing it that way, insisting that there was no “seem to be” involved. But it was a hard habit to shake.

“You’re coming, right?” Sunshine’s voice was low.

I hadn’t noticed her move closer. I lifted a shoulder. “Not sure. This is the first I’ve heard. I don’t know what Megan’s plans are for the store. Closed Thursday, obviously, but she really needs to be open on Friday. There’s enough retail on this street that she’ll miss out on a lot if it’s not open. Especially since I thought that was going to be the café hard launch. She probably needs me?”

“I think everyone but me and Wes are planning on flying back Thursday evening. Wes just wants to show off the house and take everyone through his plans in person for turning the island into a scuba destination. We’re only staying an extra day. Maybe two. Not long enough for any of us to dive, anyway.” Sunshine sighed. “Unfortunately.”

“How come?” I’d never been diving, so I trusted that there were reasons, but I couldn’t imagine what they were.

“Decompression sickness. You really shouldn’t fly for a full twenty-four hours after diving. I always try to wait thirty-six. Wes is the same. There’s just no point in risking it. Especially when we have such a beautiful place to stay and relax above the water to do it. But I have to say I’m itching to start exploring the reefs around the island more.” Sunshine leaned forward and put her empty cup on the coffee table. “And I’m a little homesick.”

“Homesick?” I’d pieced together some of Sunshine’s history, but obviously I missed something. “I thought it was an island Wes owned? Other people live there?”

She chuckled. “No. Just the Caribbean in general. We were going to try to stop in and see my bestie, Zee, but she’s actually going to be stateside for the holiday. My other friends are also busy. It happens. Heck, it happened when I lived in the islands. So many people leave to avoid the tourists, if their jobs allow it.”

That made sense. “Tristan says the same about DC. He says he starts avoiding the National Mall and that area whenever possible during holidays, spring break, and the summer. Which basically translates to never going downtown, I guess.”

Whitney leaned forward, breaking out of the conversational bubble the other women had formed. “I’m that way, too. No way I’m dragging Beckett around to see museums when I have to fight with school groups. You’ll learn the rhythms as you get used to the area. Sometimes it’s worth braving the crowds. I was so glad we hit the cherry blossom festival last year. I definitely want to do that again this year. The photos of Beckett surrounded by all the delicate pink flowers are precious.”

“I’ve seen photos of the cherry blossoms near the monuments. They’re stunning.” I made a mental note to ask Tristan if we could plan to go down and see them in person. “Is that in March?”

Whitney waggled a hand from side to side. “Ish. It varies a little every year depending on weather and so forth. They plan the festival, but the trees don’t care and bloom whenever. When we’re close, you’ll hear the status on just about every radio news report.”

“I’ll keep an ear out.”

Kayla tipped her head to the side. “Does that mean you’re sticking around?”

I blinked.

“Don’t look surprised. Should I not have asked?” Kayla looked between Megan and Whitney.

“Maybe with a little more finesse.” Megan hissed under her breath. She shot me an apologetic smile. “But we are all wondering.”

“I want to. I just don’t know what Tristan really wants. Maybe when we know what’s happening with the government lawsuit, I’ll have more information.” I wasn’t going to share that my safety from the Ortegas hinged on being married to Tristan. That wasn’t pressure I was going to put on him, either. His need to be a knight on a white charger was too strong, and I didn’t want us to stay married simply because I needed saving. Again.

Jenna frowned at me. “Why won’t you recognize that he loves you? I saw it in Paris. I thought you did, too.”

The weight of all their stares was heavy. So heavy it ought to have pushed me into the ground, and honestly that would have been an amazing relief. I cleared my throat. “Sometimes that’s not enough.”

Kayla scoffed.

“No.” Megan held up a hand. “She’s not entirely wrong. Do you love him?”

“I do.” There was no point in trying to hedge. I’d been trying to gather the courage to tell Tristan. He’d said it to me. I was a big chicken and had yet to respond in kind. I was holding out hope that maybe if he kissed me it would loosen the words from where they got stuck in my chest, but so far, we shared a bed—chastely—and a few light touches. And that was it.

“Then Kayla’s right. You’re being ridiculous. Take matters into your own hands. Tell the man you love him and you want your marriage to…” Megan paused and waved her hands around.

“I’m not versed in whatever sign language that is.” I raised my eyebrows. “What am I supposed to tell him?”

Megan stuck her tongue out at me. “Fine. It’s probably tricky. And yet, I believe you can do it. Start with ‘I love you’ and go from there. You’re already married, so you can just see where it goes.”

I sighed. “It’ll never work. He hasn’t kissed me properly since I came back.”

All of the ladies looked shocked.

Sunshine patted my knee. “Maybe he’s scared.”

I nodded. “Probably. But I don’t know how to fix it.”

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