Page 56 of War

Heart thumping, I consider Fitz. Consider telling him everything. Other than Maria, everyone we know thinks that I swept in when she was heartbroken over Xander and went for it.

One would think our friends would be shocked by how quickly we tied the knot. But not one of them has balked. Hell, none even seem the least bit surprised. Hall is the only one who was a little prickly when he found out. But that’s only because he’s now the only guy in our lineup who’s single.

He’s got the rookies and Camden, though. He’ll be fine.

“It isn’t real.” The words are barely audible. “I want it to be,” I saya little louder. “But it isn’t real. Not yet, at least. That’s why I keep calling her my wife. Why I can’t stop smiling. Why I’m antsy as fuck to get back to Boston when you and I both know that until now, when I was off the ice, I was always happiest on this board.”

Fitz assesses me, hands on his thighs, as we float over another rolling wave. “Shit. I had my suspicions, but you played it so real on the plane the day you got married.”

I shrug. “We’d just kissed for the first time. And by some miracle, she’d just fucking married me. That’s gotta mean something, right?” I rough a hand down my face, the morning air cool on my damp skin.

“Is this because of the kids? I know you were worried the judge wouldn’t approve a single guy adopting three kids.”

“Yeah. My dickhead stepbrother left her at my place on Christmas Eve so he could, get this”—I pause for dramatics—“go to a strip club.”

Fitz rolls his eyes. “How original.”

Anger sizzles, but I don’t let it win out. Because if he hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t be my wife right now. “We got to talking, and yeah, I admitted that I was nervous that the adoption won’t go through, Then she went and proposed.”

Fitz lets out a surprised laugh. “No shit?”

I shrug. “The woman can be so damn selfless. Without much thought, she just saidI’ll do it.” I shake my head, still surprised it was all so easy. Nothing is ever easy for me. “But she loves Josie as much as I do. And you should see her with Scarlett and Bray. She’s really trying. I can tell she wants to make this work.”

“And then she kissed you.” Fitz says it with this knowing smirk.

“Well,Ikissed her. But she didn’t stop it.” Just the thought of the surprised little moan that escaped her has me smiling again. “I know she agreed to be my wife because she loves Josie, but it feels like maybe there’s more there too.” I scratch my head. “There always has been.”

He points at me, blue eyes piercing in the brightening sun. “Talk to her. Tell her what you’re feeling. Be honest. Seriously.” He runs a palm over his board, sloshing water from it as he does. “Brooks gave me this advice when I was in my head over Mel and Dec. Have an honest conversation. That’s the only way to make a relationship reallywork. Especially when there are more than two people involved in it.”

I flick water at him. “We’re not bringing anyone else into our relationship.” Just the idea has my stomach twisting. The thought of anyone else touching my wife has the fighter in me ready to throw punches.

“Hate to break it to ya, War, but there are already three other people involved in your relationship.” He stares me down.

Tilting my head back, I sigh up at the sky. He’s not wrong. It’s not just my feelings at stake, it’s theirs too. “So I talk to her,” I grumble.

With a laugh, Fitz drops down and paddles for a wave. “Yeah, you talk to her.”

Me: How was work today?

Ava: Work has been interesting. Today was the first day Beckett has been in the office since someone blasted on social media that we got married.

Me: You must have loved that.

Ava: He sat me down and spent thirty minutes lecturing me about all the ways married life is superior. I assure you, I didn’t love it.

Me: The man is a bit unhinged.

Ava: You think?

Ava: Honestly, it’s kind of adorable. He’s so in love with his wife. How was your day?

Me:

Ava: Holy crap, you surf? And wait, how do you have aphone in the water?

Me: Let’s circle back to your enthusiasm over my ability to surf.

Ava: Your obsession with yourself is showing.

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