Page 63 of Shadows and Whispers

I walked closer. “Ez, isn’t happy. You aren’t either. He wants a divorce. Said that you want to make things work. That’s not what it looks like.”

“Don’t judge what you don’t understand, Elias. You’ve been gone for years. You have no clue what’s between your brother and I.”

“You telling another man that you love him gives me a pretty good idea of what’s between you and my brother.”

“He’s not perfect.”

“Never said he was. What I am saying is that you don’t want to be married to him and he doesn’t want to be married to you. There’s a simple fix, Sasha. Get a divorce.”

“Divorcing your brother isn’t a simple solution. Our marriage isn’t about us. It never has been. Again, don’t judge what you don’t understand and stay out of my business. Your father is the reason why I’m so miserable.”

She walked off and I moved further into the garden, taking a seat on one of the concrete benches. A few minutes later I had company.

“If you get to hide, so do I?”

I smiled at Cress who settled next to me. The bench was long enough to fit at least four people but she took the spot directly next to me so that our shoulders and thighs were touching.

“I’m not hiding.”

She turned her face to meet mine and arched a brow. I chuckled, lowering my eyes to her finger where she was toying with her ring.

“You’ve been fidgeting with that all night,” I murmured. Her eyes shot up to mine.

“How would you know that unless you’ve been watching me?” Her voice was teasing.

“I have. Is that a problem?”

“No, I don’t know.Maybe.”

I chuckled at her uncertainty. “I like watching you and considering the alternative…”Engaging in small talk with people I have no desire to converse with. “Watching you has been the highlight of my evening.”

“I guess I can’t argue with that.” Her eyes lowered to her hand and she wiggled her fingers. “I love the ring. It’s nothing like I expected.”

“What didn’t you expect?”

She smiled wide. “I don’t know really but I figured something more uniform.”

“Is that what you would have preferred?”

“No…” She frowned. “I love this and I’m not fidgeting with it because it’s not absolutely stunning. It’s just a reminder that this is happening. Tonight makes things more real. That we’re really getting married.”

I could agree. Tonight shifted things a little. A houseful of people congratulating us would do that.

“I met your mother.”

“Then I apologize for whatever experience she left you with.”

“She was nice.”

“I’m sure she was, toyou.”

“Hmm, should I invite her to dinner to get the full experience?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You can but you’re on your own. I wouldn’t dare willingly expose myself to the full experience of my mother.”

“How is that fair? I had to suffer through dinner with my mother.”

“As much as you think your mother and mine are similar, they’re two very different people.”

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