Page 109 of Married With Lies

The break in the conversation gives me a minute to reflect on a few things.

I’ve told lies to everyone.

My brother. Richie. Baylor. Vinny. Fucking everyone.

Except her.

It’s my single point of pride. I don’t lie to Sadie. It’s only with her that I’m better than I am. The days don’t seem to make any sense without her in them. Without Sadie, I’m just going through the motions. An imitation of living.

It all adds up to an inescapable fact.

The man who cynically proposed a marriage arrangement to a girl he barely knew on a cold Christmas Eve isn’t here anymore.

He’s been replaced with Sadie’s husband.

Baylor finally turns away from the window and uses the side of his fork to scrape some sauce from the guts of his sandwich. The sight makes me snort with laughter. He looks up in confusion.

“I forgot,” I say.

“You forgot what?”

“You were always the pickiest fucking eater in the world.”

He manages to gurgle a slight laugh. “I guess not everything changes, huh?”

“No, not everything,” I agree.

Now that the ice has been thawed a little, Baylor begins asking shy questions about his sister. Lucky for him he found the one topic I enjoy talking about. When he wants to hear more about the ranch, I show him some of the videos Sadie sent to me. I know she won’t mind.

He’s clearly impressed. And proud of what Sadie has accomplished. Watching those emotions on his face softens my opinion of him quite a bit.

Baylor chews a small bite of his pastrami and regards me thoughtfully. “Can I tell you something?”

“Might as well.”

“It didn’t really hit me until I saw you two together at that shitshow of a wedding. But you really do love her, don’t you, Cale?”

Easiest answer I ever. “Yeah, Bay. I really do love her.”

How could I not love that girl?

Sadie is feisty and sexy and full of surprises. She’s smart and she can be stubborn. She’s generous and funny. She’s everything.

There’s nothing easier than loving her.

Baylor doesn’t seem eager to leave. Neither am I but I did make a promise to Luca. After an hour and a half I need to call it quits.

Despite Baylor’s protests, I toss some cash on the table and stand up. “I’ll see you around, Bay.”

“Wait. Can I ask you for something?”

“Try it. Maybe I’ll say yes.”

“Could you put in a good word for me with Sadie? There’s a lot I need to make up for. But I’d sure like the chance to be her big brother again.”

“I’ll let her know what you said. That’s the best I can do.”

He nods. “Fair enough.”

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