Page 78 of A Convenient Secret
“I can’t believe Declan didn’t fill you in. How can you live with that man? At least his kids are adorable.”
If she only knew that I not only live here, I married the man. I want to tell her just to enjoy her reaction.
“Fill me in.” I chuckle, but it comes out strangled.
I know she can’t read my thoughts, but keeping something this big from my friends? It should come easy because I’ve kept other things from them. It doesn’t come easy.
I want to pretend it’s not a big deal, but frankly, the enormity of my deal with Declan only dawned on me when my account beeped with a new balance, and he gave me a copy of our marriage certificate. What was I thinking?
The idea of bringing someone temporaryinto Zoya and Zach’s life was just heartbreaking. As if I wasn’t temporary. Jesus. What was I thinking?
I’m in no position to act as someone’s wife.
The night when I signed the prenup, I came close to breaking my cover. Just like with the forgotten glasses, I commented on the spreadsheet, and he questioned me again. And then he offered to do my family tree, and I bolted.
What was I thinking?
Now I’m married to the man when I’m not even able to live beside him without dropping my guard.
“There is a gala, and the boys decided to take the four of us. I mean, obviously I go with Corm, and Celeste with Cal. But Xander agreed to invite Cora, so I guess they went with it, and you are left to be Declan’s plus one.”
“How lovely.” I close my eyes. I’m going out with my new husband.
“Shit. I didn’t mean it like that. You can officially go with Xander if you want. The point is, the four of us are going to the party of the year together. The men will do their business, but we can have a lot of fun. Car is picking you up in half an hour.”
I slide down and walk to the window, like I can see the vehicle approaching from here. “What? I don’t have a dress… and I have to pick up the kids… and we can’t both leave them—”
“Lily, chill, babe; Declan is taking care of the kids. I think Dorothy is coming over to stay with them. All I know is, I’m in charge of styling, and I sent the car to pick you up. Dress has been arranged.”
The fact that everything is arranged sounds like Declan. The not keeping me in the loop is weird, but also not unexpected from him.
“Okay.”
“Yes!” Saar cheers. “We’ll have so much fun.”
“Where is the car taking me?”
“To Celeste. Since she has separation anxiety and has to breastfeed, we will do all the preparations at her place.”
“I can walk over.”
“Or you can let me treat you like a queen. Just be downstairs in fifteen.”
We hang up, and I text Declan.
A gala you forgot to mention?
Declan
Sorry. Saar will take care of you. Mom is watching the kids. I’ll pick them up.
Annoyingly efficient as ever. Since we signed the prenup four days ago, we have been living in a new state of collaboration. Almost like we’re partners in crime, so we no longer tiptoe around each other.
It’s this weird state of co-parenting. We focus on children because none of us wants to think about the unresolved tension. Or I focus on children because, for all I know, Declan doesn’t seem interested in me anymore.
One good thing that came out of this new arrangement is that he isn’t ignoring me.
He is not exactly going out of his way to spend time with me, but the ice has melted. Which is also a new challenge because now, when I’m not mad at his abhorrent behavior, I have more time to ogle him.
