Page 73 of Brew
I clear my throat.Be honest with him.
“By people who are married.”
“Do you feel weird about it?” he asks.
I pull the duvet up to my chin, unsure I should answer honestly, but I do anyway. “It’s not that I feel weird. It’s just…different.”
“But you feel off about it, right?”
“You told me to be honest with you, and that’s what I’m doing. But please know, I don’t expect anything?—”
“Let’s get married.”
I’m sure I’m not hearing correctly, in fact, I should slap my cheeks to make sure I’m not actually dreaming.
“You’re hilarious.”
“You’re uncomfortable being unmarried and havin’ sex, and I want to do it again. I want to do a lot of things with you, Erica. It’s a small compromise.”
I try to process his words. “Did anyone tell you you’re literally insane?”
“Many times,” he admits. “So many times I’ve lost count.”
“I don’t regret it,” I whisper. “It’s just a lot for someone like me. I grew up in a strict household, and when I married Steven, I was a virgin.”
“He didn’t get the best of you,” he says, surprising me. “I promise you that.”
A tear escapes. “Sometimes it feels like he did, like there are old wounds that won’t heal because of what he did.”
“I won’t let him hurt you, never again, you hear me?”
I smile, despite myself. “You’re a good man, Brew.”
“I wasn’t kiddin’ about the marriage part.”
“If I take you up on your offer, you’ll have to live up to husband duties,” I sing. “There’s a lot involved. Times have changed since I was married.”
“I’m not kiddin’, Erica.” He’s stoic and serious.
I jolt, my eyes widening. He’s actually freaking serious? Brew rarely jokes, in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him joke about anything.
“I’m sure we’d have a lot of explaining to do to Olive,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“If it makes you feel better about sex?—”
“Brew, quit it,” I say, sitting up. “You don’t mean?—”
“I mean everythin’ I say.”
“Marriage? Just to make me feel more comfortable?”
“I don’t see the issue,” he says, like we’re talking about the freaking weather.
“You. Don’t. See. The. Issue?” My words are purposely slow. “It’smarriage.”
“Yep, I’m well aware of that.”
“You’ve never been married before.”
