Page 79 of Love You Truly

Dash

I spent much of the night lying awake, hearing the radio silence in the room after telling Mallory I love her. I didn’t necessarily think she’d tell me she felt the same way, but I guess I'd hoped after she said it during the wedding ceremony.

A part of me believed her when she said it. She looked into my eyes and teared up. Is she really that good of an actress? By the end of a long night of mulling it over next to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, I managed to talk myself down. It doesn’t have to be today.

I really do believe our relationship is turning into something more than an arrangement, and I’ll take it one day at a time. Hopefully, I’ll win her over.

That or maybe she does just see me as the fuckboy she can have fun with while planning world domination.

I slip out of bed without waking Mallory, glancing back at her milky white skin against the crisp sheets and the way her dark hair dances across the pillowcase. No idea how I got so damned lucky.

In the little kitchenette of the honeymoon suite, I make a pot of coffee and debate ordering room service from the restaurant at Buttercup Hill or going to a diner in sweats. Both sound appealing.

“Hey, husband,” her sleepy voice coos in my ear as she wraps her arms around my neck.

“Morning, wife.” I kiss her nose.

“I still can’t believe we did it. We’re married.”

Her enthusiasm makes me smile. I need to knock off all my overthinking and just enjoy what we have. It’s good. More than good.

But then she finishes her thought. “Now I can get Felix out of my life for good. Thank God that’s over.”

Not a word about last night, no whispered morning-after sweet nothings or lingering romance of a wedding and wedding night where she really outdid herself with her performance. Good to know where I stand on her priority list.

I turn away and busy myself with the coffee in case the look on my face betrays me because fucking Felix was certainly not the first person who comes to mind right now.

I’m still stuck on Mallory’s wedding vows, the feeling of her in my arms while we danced, the night we spent tangled up in each other. But that was last night, and now it’s morning. I guess it’s time to join the real world.

“By the way, I know we said we’d live together, but no pressure. This is for the sake of thoroughness. Wouldn’t want to give Felix any reason to come sniffing, claiming this whole thing’s a farce, but you should stay at your own house whenever. You know…”

It’s passive-aggressive, I know. I don’t claim to be one hundred percent mature. But I can’t bring myself to tell her I love her again and suffer the awkward silence, so I’m following her lead. If her first thought is about her ex, I’ll go there too, even if I’m hoping she corrects my misperception.

She doesn’t. “Oh. Okay, great. Sounds good.”

It does? Jesus, I really need to get my head straight.

“Yeah, I guess you’re good to go now. Evil plan for world domination, check.”

She laughs and comes behind me, encircling me with her arms. The feel of her pressed against me makes me think I’m overreacting. It’s true that our marriage is a business deal, but that doesn’t have to change what still feels like it could be a real relationship. For the first time in my life, I’m clear that I want one. With her.

“I was debating between room service and going to that diner in Calistoga. Do you know it?”

“Mmm, I like both ideas, but one of them lets us stay in bed for as long as we want…” I turn in her arms and find her smiling up at me. Dark long lashes, fresh face scrubbed of makeup, pink lips I want to bite. No chance I can resist her.

“Done. I’ll text an order to Sweet Butter. Eggs, pancakes, croissants, quiche, muffins, fruit platter.”

“Hmm, I guess maybe eggs?”

“It wasn’t a question, Mellow Yellow. I’m ordering all of it.”

She takes my hand and leads me back to the bedroom. “In that case, let me work up an appetite.”

She seems happy. On the surface nothing seems different, other than the gold band on my finger and the fact that now we’re legally married. I decide to let her comment about Felix and last night’s uncomfortable silence ride for the time being. For now, I just want to take my wife back to bed and let my mouth roam every part of her body.

I want to focus on the present, where life seems very, very good. I’ll worry about tomorrow after that.

CHAPTER 29

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