Page 36 of Shattered

“Are you sure?”

“I’m an open book.”

I’d just taken a bite of my gooey sandwich, then nearly choked when she blurted, “How hot is the sex?”

“Oh shit.” She pounded on my back. “I should’ve started with something less personal.”

“You think?” I coughed, grabbing for my glass of water.

She threw her arms out to the side. “I’m curious. Sue me.”

“It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“We haven’t…”

“Oh. OH.” Her eyes widened with realization. “Thatman looks at you like you’re his last meal. Have you friend-zoned him?”

“Friend-zoned?”

“Don’t play coy, Miss Romance Book Editor. You know exactly what I’m alluding to.”

“I’m suddenly regretting our friendship,” I deadpanned.

“Nah, you love me.”

“Then why are you suggesting our lack of marital relations are my fault?”

“Marital relations?” She busted out laughing. “What are you? Eighty?”

“Are you going to make fun of me or help me figure out how to convince my husband to sleep with me?”

“Jade.” She touched my hand. “Trust me. Koen wants you just as much as you want him.”

“I think I’m in love with him.”

I’d barely been able to admit my feelings to myself, let alone verbalize them. Yet as I said the words out loud, warmth spread through me, heating my body like a wool blanket on a cold night.

Her gaze landed on mine. “Well, duh. Anyone with working eyes can see that. You and Koen were inevitable. Just give it time.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?”

“Listen to your heart, Jade, and to hell with all the other noise creeping into your thoughts. Not every relationship is molded from the same slab of clay. Yes, you went from zero to married in six seconds, but from where I’m standing, the only thing you did was speed up the timeline.”

“Thank you, Henley. I’ve been driving myself crazy, overthinking every little thing.”

“You’re welcome.” She spun on the stool, taking another bite of her food. “Seriously though, don’t sweat the smallstuff. I have a good feeling your marriage will turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made.”

Deep down, I knew she was right. Koen fit effortlessly into my life, like he belonged. I fought it at first, the draw to be closer to him, chalking up my attraction to an unnatural infatuation. The only experience I had with a man—if you considered a clumsy, drunken night of sub-par sex experience—was four years ago, so I didn’t have a clue how to be in a normal relationship. Lord knew the only thing Bill and Trudy Trumble ever taught me was whatnotto do.

“So how’s the wedding planning going?” I dug into my sandwich with gusto, praying she’d pick up on my not-so-subtle switch in gears.

“It’s not. We can’t agree on a date.”

“Let me guess, Keaton wants the ceremony tomorrow?”

“Pretty much,” she mumbled around a mouthful of food.

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