Page 130 of Reckless Vow

More binding.

Essential.

We both startle when her phone dances on the table.

“It’s London.” Brook tenses and picks up. “Is Dad okay?”

Shit. I watch her for any signs, hoping the news isn’t too bad.

“Oh my God. Yes, yes, we’ll get back as soon as possible.”

She’s smiling as she says that, so I relax. Though I’m not particularly keen on returning to the States.

“Paris had a baby boy. It’s a bit early, but they are both doing well. Mom and Dad are returning from Florida. We should go back.”

She’s radiant with excitement, but her smile dies as soon as she utters the words.

We don’t need to say it out loud—the implications are obvious.

Are we returning as siblings or as a couple?

They will never accept us.

Chapter34

Brook

“Where are we?” I yawn and blink a few times, stretching my limbs.

I couldn’t sleep on the flight. We landed at the crack of dawn, and I must have promptly fallen asleep in the town car Baldo hired.

I’m so excited about meeting my little nephew, and spending more time with Dad. But our return is clouded.

Baldo and I are together. We’re a couple. We’re married, and while we’re both hesitant about full commitment—the man still hasn’t kissed me—we can’t pretend this is fake.

But Dad doesn’t even know about the fake marriage.

It’s all too overwhelming, and we are both evading the topic. I’m avoiding to the best of my abilities—it’s a superpower of mine—and I left all the travel arrangements to Baldo.

As if having someone else booking the travel meant I didn’t have to face the return. I didn’t want to think about coming back to our Riverdale home.

But as I look up, we’re not in the Bronx.

Baldo helps me get out of the car.

No, definitely Upper East Side.

“We’re home.”

I frown at him, but he’s busy overseeing the luggage. A uniformed bellhop appears with a trolley and starts loading our suitcases.

Why do we have four of them? I only had one. Is Baldo planning to stay longer?

“Home?”

He takes my hand, and we follow the bellhop. “Temporary, until we find our own place.”

“Is this a hotel?”

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