Page 11 of Perfectly Wedded

She studies me for a moment and something breaks in her expression. “I don’t know if I can do it, Vale. I’m a terrible liar,”she says, her voice wavering. “Why do you think I won’t play poker with you?”

I chuckle. “This isn’t poker, Sloan.”

“Easy for you to say,” she says, slapping me on the chest. “You played your part tonight like a pro.”

“That’s because it wasyou.” I catch myself and quickly add, “You’re my friend. It’s easy to step into whatever role you need.” That’s only partially true. It wasn’t easy because we’re friends—it’s easy because being close to her feels right in a way I can’t explain.

“What happens when I don’t need the drug anymore? Then what—we just end it?”

I hold her gaze, my throat tightening. “We don’t have to figure that out now,” I say, my voice quieter. “We’ll deal with it when we get there. Right now, all I care about is making sure you’re okay.” I hesitate, feeling the weight of my words.

She frowns. “But what if I have to take the medicine for four or five years? You’d be stuck with me and that could ruin our friendship for good. The last thing I want is for you to resent me for forcing you into a marriage that’s unhappy.”

I place my hands on her arms, locking eyes with her. “I couldneverresent you, Sloan. If I have to stay with you longer, I will. We’re already living together, and our friendship hasn’t suffered yet.” I pause, offering a small smile. “Besides, you’re a lot easier to live with than Leo.”

She bites back a grin. “Leo wouldn’t be easy for anyone to live with.”

“I know you think you’ll be holding me back, but I’m not looking for another woman.” My voice is firm. I have to convince her that my offer of marriage doesn’t come with strings attached. When it comes to her, I’m all in.

“Why would you do this for me?” she asks, searching my face.

“Because I refuse to stand by and watch you get sick again. I’ve seen how far you’ve come, and I can’t watch that happen again.”

“No,” she finally blurts, shaking her head and stepping back. “I can’t let you do this.” She turns to go, but I grab her arm before she can run again.

“Sloan,” I urge. “For once in your life, I need you to remember the person you were before the accident. The one who took risks. The girl who lived life to the fullest. You told me once you wanted to be her again, and now is your chance. Take a risk onthat girl.”

Her jaw clenches, and I know she feels it too: she wants to find that girl again.

She hesitates, and I feel the walls she built slowly crumble, her arguments against this turning to dust. I don’t want this to ruin our friendship. But what other choice do I have? If I do nothing, Sloan will relapse and we’ll all lose her.

Say yes, say yes,my heart beats like a drum.But I know better than to push her into a decision. Just because I want Sloan—the most generous, beautiful woman I know—doesn’t mean I can make her marry me. She has to choose this, chooseus,on her own.

“Okay. Let me get this straight,” she says. “As long as this is only a temporary fix—a marital contract with an end date—thenmaybeI’ll consider it.”

“Is that a yes?” I ask, trying not to show my excitement yet. If I act too eager, I’ll scare her off.

“If I say yes—and that’s a big if—there are a few things we still have to discuss,” she says.

“If this is about who changes the toilet paper roll, I think we can share that job,” I say, keeping a straight face.

“No,” she says with a smile, then holds up her left hand. “But you’d better put a ring on it.”

I grin and point behind us. “I saw a guy on the street corner selling fake engagement rings.”

She laughs. “The one with the light-up headbands?”

“A one-stop shop for all your Vegas needs,” I add.

“I don’t need a real ring,” she says. “It’s not even arealmarriage.”

“Real enough to get you the insurance you need,” I say, my gaze on hers. “There’s no turning back after we do this.”

The finality of it settles between us.

She hesitates, then finally nods. “I’ll do it, on one condition,” she begins. “If at any point either of us wants out, we can walk away.”

FIVE

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