Page 98 of Flame
“What is happening right now?” I ask the empty room.
Before I can attempt to answer my own question, my phone buzzes.
Mom: Sorry to bother you. But I was just at Smokey’s, and they found one of your keys. Becca gave it to me. I set it on your kitchen counter.
Me: Another one?
Mom: I know.
Me: Thanks.
Mom: Love you. (And it’s killing me not to ask questions about your honeymoon, but I won’t. Please remember this at Christmas.)
I silence notifications and then toss my phone on the couch.
“You’re the only man I know good enough for her, and she’s the only woman who’s good enough for you.”
I’m in shock. I’m sure that’s what this is. I’ve heard it described before—low blood pressure, altered mental state, confusion, rapid pulse—but I’ve never felt it. Not all those things at one time.
Not like this.
As the incredulity starts to fade, another brand of the same emotion begins.
Could this be the start of something real? If Bianca feels the same way, and I’m not even sure it’s realistic to hope that she does, could we really do this?
Could she really be my wife?
I should be backtracking, finding ways to throw up boundaries and keep this thing in a tidy box all on its own. But the idea of keeping her separate from all other things in my life feels wrong. I’d feel cheated. Having her included in my life is the only option that feels right.
“Foxx?”
Bianca’s sleepy voice rings through the hotel room. The sound of the slumber still thick in her tone makes me smile.My wife. Who I love.
I go to her, opening the door and peeking in. She’s lying in the middle of the bed, waiting for me to come to her.
My heart thumps on the heels of my conversation with Jason.
“Hey,” I say, slipping into bed beside her. She wastes no time curling up next to me. This is how it’s supposed to be. “How do you feel today?”
She laughs. “Tired. Sore. Ready to go again.”
My chest shakes as I chuckle.
“What are we going to do today?”
I shrug. “What do you want to do today?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it …” She smiles. “I was thinking we could order room service for breakfast because I saw something about croissant French toast and that’s totally my vibe. While we wait, we could exchange some oral just to start the day off nice and easy.”
That’s it. She’s the perfect woman.
“Then we could maybe do something outside—just to get some fresh air,” she says. “But nothing too outdoorsy. Just because I want to do something outside doesn’t mean I want to be an outside girl.”
I snort. “Explain that, please.”
She sits up. “Okay, it’s like this. I like to get fresh air and sun. Hiking is fine if there aren’t bugs. Swimming is great if I can see the bottom. We can go camping with air-conditioning and hot, running water. Otherwise, not my idea of a good time.”
Bianca’s tits are in my face. I have no idea what she just said.
