Page 21 of Clause & Effect
“You didn’t tell him, did you?” I ask her as we both keep an eye on Devon’s location.
“No,” she shakes her head. “I haven’t had the time yet.”
“Grace!” I hiss at her when she shrugs her shoulders.
“What?! He’s my husband—meaning hecanknow this. Honestly, married people tell each other everything. It’s a type of verbal diarrhea that can’t be explained. Besides, it’s not some deep, dark family secret.”
How did she guess?! Shit!
“I just don’t want to make a big deal out of it,” I say.
“Did you see how the girlfriends were all looking at you in envy at dinner, ready to pull your hair out or set you on fire?” Graphic. Grace lowers her voice as she points below to the staterooms where the rest of the group is sleeping. “They’re pissed.”
I laugh. I can’t help the subtle joy that erupts past my lips any more than I can enjoy the smugness that comes along with it.
“Can you blame them?” She asks me.
I shake my head. “No… but I’m sure he has his quirks too.”
Like the family clause that he wants me to sign.
And the whole, ‘gonna make you walk over to my boat then enter you’ sort of quirks. I gulp. I sit up straighter, is it hot in here again? And here I was worried about the cold. Not so much anymore, not even a little bit.
“They’re probably nothing compared to what these people have to put up with,” Grace dismissed my comment while I contemplated fanning myself like I was facing an outdoor wedding in the south.
Before I can respond, Devon walks back to the table. One of the servers places a plate of fresh cut fruit in front of him.
“That was Stetson,” he says casually.
I immediately forget how to breathe. What? What did he need? Want?Say?
“And?” Grace asks casually. I know she’s dying over this too, but there’s no way she’ll let on in front of her husband. I am so not the epitome of calm, cool, and collected.
“He invited us on a small excursion to see the orcas and have lunch on his yacht.”
“Oh?” Grace says.
“It’s an extremely generous offer,” he says.
“Hmmm,” Grace looks intrigued.
Devon looks at her like she’s crazy. “Oh. And… hmmm? I wouldn’t mind a full sentence every so often.”
“Touché,” Grace acknowledges. “So what are your thoughts on an orca excursion with them?”
“I like them and I’m curious to see both the boat and orcas,” he answers honestly. “I think we can let everyone know and if they want to come, they’re more than welcome, if not, they can stay on board as planned for today.”
“That’s a great idea,” Grace agrees.
“And what are you thinking, Charlie?” Devon asks with a sly smile.
I roll my eyes at him because he knows there were no actual thoughts only affirmative answers.
“Funny.”
He laughs. “It is if you saw your face and the shade of red it happens to be.”
I hate my pale skin. It’s so obvious when I’m embarrassed or in this case embarrassed and excited.
