Page 34 of Chasing Bandit

“Do you think we’re making a mistake by sleeping with each other while I’m here?” I whispered.

His hands froze on my shoulders and moved lower, gently turning me to face him.

“Are you regretting your decision to move in?”

“No, I mean, I don’t know.”

His eyes narrowed, “What’s on your mind?”

“I just don’t know if we’re complicating things. This was a legal agreement and supposed to be a marriage with a singular purpose so that you could get the ranch, not a friends-with-benefits type of situation.”

He nodded, “Are you worried one of us is going to develop feelings and want something more out of this?”

“Isn’t that what typically happens with friends-with-benefits arrangements?”

He shook his head, “when are you going to realize, that this isn’t a friends-with-benefits situation? We’re married.”

“On paper.”

His jaw ticked as he held back his words.

“We fight a lot, Wylie," I pointed out.

“We haven’t been fighting recently.”

“That’s because we’ve been fucking too much to have time to fight.” I laughed then lowered my voice, “I don’t want this to be like what you and Lana had. I know I don’t know what exactly that was, but the breaking up to make up seems toxic.”

"Bandit, what Lana and I had—it's nothing like what we have. We fought because, deep down, I don't think either of us really wanted each other and we didn't want to put in the effort to find someone else. Most of the time, we were challenging each other to end things, both unhappy with our current situations. There was no future with us. But with you, it's different. When I argue with you, it's because I want a future together. I want to prove to you that what we have is worth fighting for every single day of our lives. And, honestly, I enjoy it when you get all flushed and angry. We're not enemies, and we're not just friends. You're my wife."

I sighed and turned away, my back now facing him once more. I heard his words, but something was missing. Could a relationship that began with a fake marriage ever truly grow into something more meaningful? It seemed like we had started off on the wrong foot from the very beginning.

How could I separate my feelings for him when I was already bound to him in marriage?

And was it even possible for us to genuinely fall in love, apart from obligation?

Chapter 25 – Wylie

Have you ever known two people who were just meant to be together?

That's how it felt standing next to my brother as he married the love of his life, Jovie Vector.

My eyes found Stevie's on the other side of the makeshift altar we'd erected on Ashwood ranch, and I sent her a wink while the preacher continued to talk about love and commitment.

Things had been going great. Though we hadn't actually said the words, I knew I loved her, and she loved me, and I was prepared to tell her tonight when I got up the courage, right after I took her to do something else that I'd always wanted to do with her.

Someone started cheering in the crowd as Nash and Jovie kissed before beginning their descent down the aisle. I met Stevie in the middle again, her hooking her arm in mine before we began our walk to follow. The number of people who were in attendance today was a stark contrast to our wedding three short months earlier, but it'd never bothered me. What'd happened with ours was exactly how things were intended to be.

"Save me a dance, Wylie Cameron," she said before letting go of my arm.

"I'll be looking for you. But I got somewhere better to take you after this thing is over."

The rest of the wedding night was a blur of socializing with friends and family who had come to witness the ceremony, interspersed with moments of eating and dancing. I hardly had any time with Stevie, as she was constantly being pulled in different directions. By the time seven o'clock rolled around, I finally grabbed her arm and pulled her outside to the front of the home.

"Where are we going?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement to be leaving the party behind.

"You'll see."

I helped Stevie into my truck, ready for some adventure. The sun was starting to set now, casting a warm glow over the countryside. I glanced over at her, and her eyes sparkled with excitement, her hair slightly tousled from the dancing. Stevie had always seemed cleaner cut than Jovie, unwilling to get messy so I was excited to unleash a dirty side that I knew she had within.

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