Page 46 of War

Sara coughs out a laugh. “Uh, I doubt it. Millie’s got big plans, and they don’t include any more babies. At least not for a while.”

“When she gets back, we’ll invite her and Vivi over,” I say to Josie. “I bet Vivi and Scarlett would love to play together.”

“How was your Christmas?” Hannah asks, eyes dancing. She called on Christmas Day to remind me not to go back to Xander.

I promised I wouldn’t and then told her who I was marrying instead. She did a proper scream and then told me how she’d always known War was obsessed with me. I let her in on the real reason we were getting married since what we have is far from a whirlwind romance that occurred in only ten hours’ time. She is still convinced it’s more than that. The other girls remain completely in the dark, though.

“I had the best Christmas ever,” Josie says, her sweet voice a soothing balm, as always.

Lennox pushes a mimosa in my direction, eyeing Scarlett to make sure she won’t swipe it.

As I reach for the glass, Josie leans forward, eyes wide, and whispers, “But I think Ava”—she thumbs over at me—“had an even better day. When I woke up, I found her having a sleepover in Tyler’s bed.”

“Josie.” I set my glass on the table with a little too much force. Thank god I haven’t taken a sip yet. If I had, Scarlett would be wearing it.

“Shut up,” Lennox shouts, her voice echoing off the walls.

“Yup.” Josie nods, chin lifted with pride. “Then he asked her tomarry him, and now she’s going to be my mom, right?” She peers over at me, a hint of wariness in her expression, despite her confident tone. It guts me, the caution there. The poor thing is worried that I’ll change my mind.

“Yeah, love bug.” I stroke her hair and frame her face with my free hand. “That’s the hope. But no matter what, I’ll always be here for you, okay?”

The way the tension drains from her body pinches my heart. “Okay.”

Sara eyes me over Josie’s head, silently making it clear that I can’t get away with not telling them the full story. Her eyes go from serious slits to wide with shock, though, when she catches sight of the ring on my finger. “Oh my god, look at that rock.”

Blushing, I can’t help but study the beautiful emerald. And I can’t help but be reminded that this is the exact ring I would have chosen if asked to design my own. A simple gold band with filigree designs and a round emerald. It’s obviously an heirloom, and I know he didn’t have time to go shopping sometime between midnight and seven a.m. on Christmas morning.

The look in his eyes as he slid it on my finger told me everything I needed to know. Whoever this ring belonged to, and I have a feeling it was his mother, was very special to him. It made me think that, just maybe, I’m special to him. Or I could be.

Flexing my fingers, I shake the thought from my mind. This isn’t a real marriage. Believing this is a fairy tale is a bad idea. That’s how people get hurt. How hearts get broken.

We’re doing this for Josie and Scarlett and Brayden.

My entire life has been in service of other people. It’s what I’m made for. I can absolutely do this.

“Tyler Warren, you sweet boy, you,” Sara says as my husband-to-be appears with Brayden in tow. We’ve just finished brunch, where wedrank way too many mimosas and I had to cover Josie’s ears three more times because these women don’t know how to censor themselves. It’s official—girls’ brunch is not meant for kids. I’ll have to find a sitter next time.

Wow, look at me thinking of babysitters and maternal things like that.

War only gives her awho me?look in response.

I pull my little love bug into my side and hold her tight. “Josie here told the girls our news.”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “Ah, so they know that it was all an act.”

A hint of dread worms its way through me in response to the clear calculation in his tone. What the hell is he doing? This is not the place to tell our friends the truth about our agreement. And I can’t believe he thinks it’s okay to bring it up in front of the kids.

“What was an act?” Lennox asks, squinting.

My cheeks heat, and my heart is thumping against my breastbone. I get it if he doesn’t want the girls to think he actually has feelings for me, but this is mortifying.

He doesn’t turn away from me as he replies. “The hatred my future wife has always harbored for me. Apparently she just wanted my attention.”

Instantly, the unease dissipates, but it’s quickly replaced with irritation. That shouldn’t be surprising. When it comes to Tyler Warren, I’m always irritated.

Hannah lets out a dry laugh. “Right.Becauseshe’sthe one who was putting on the act.”

“Oh, I don’t deny that I wanted her attention and that I acted like a jerk to get it,” he says, his voice and expression filled with far too much glee. He faces me again, mischief in his eyes. “But now she’s all mine. Right, Vicious?”

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