Page 23 of Real Fake Husband

“The very same.”

“Wow. Diabolical. I mean, I know your grandmother was smart and the sneakiest person I ever met, but this is a whole new level entirely. When are you supposed to go through with it?”

“It’s already done.”

“Dude, hold on. Are you saying you’re married? You actually went through with marrying Josephine Graham?”

“Yeah. Last night.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would have gotten you guys a gift or something.”

“Chill. It’s not arealwedding or marriage. We’re not telling anyone about it. It’s just for the inheritance. After a month, we’ll go back to our own lives.”

Theo doesn’t speak for a moment. When I look at him, I find him shaking his head. “That’s crazy,” he says. “That’s…”

“I know.”

“Why did you even agree? It’s not like you need the money.”

“It’s not about the money. It was Gran’s last wish. I couldn’t be here when she passed away. I can’t ignore what she wanted. It wouldn’t be right. Plus, if I back out, some algae swindler gets all Gran’s stuff. That’s not happening.”

“If it were anyone else you were married to, I’d agree. I know you’ve never backed down from a challenge before, but I remember what you and Josie were like in school. I’m surprised you’re still alive right now.”

“I can handle her. Don’t worry about me.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Areyou handling her?”

“No handling has happened, nor is it going to happen,” I assure him. “Although I will say that Josie looks different now to what she did back then.”

That piques his interest. “Oh, yeah, different how?”

I think about her in that thin nightie, and it makes my heart rate spike. “Hot enough for me to think about going there.”

“Well, why don’t you?”

“Nah, that’s not what this is about.”

Theo shrugs. “I don’t know, man. I’ve slept with a couple of women I didn’t exactly get along with, and it translated into some really kinky sex.”

The thought of Josie and kinky sex makes my mind wander for several glorious seconds. I picture her lying on my chest on the bed we share. This time, I’d rip that thin nightie off her, taking away that flimsy fabric that separated her hot body from my eager hands. I’d make her moan, make her writhe and beg before I’d give her what she wanted. What she needed. I’d fuck all the hate and resentment she seems to harbor against me right out of her.

Whoa there. Pump the brakes.

This is starting to get out of hand.

I’ve got to work off some of this steam. “I need to do something with my hands,” I say. “Come on, let’s go make ourselves useful.”

“Heck yeah.”

For the next few hours, Theo and I join the construction crew. I always loved working with my hands. It’s why the cushy office job drove me nuts. Nothing beats physical labor. I like staying fit and working out—working construction, or working on bikes helps that.

My body is aching when I finally stop. The good kind of ache that comes from solid work. As I down some water, I check my phone and notice that Josie’s texted me, letting me know that she’ll be wrapping up her shift in about an hour, at 7:15 p.m. I shoot her a quick response before slipping my phone back into my pocket.

Theo looks up. “Wanna grab some dinner?”

“Yeah, that sounds great. But first I’ve got to pick Josie up.”

“Aww, how sweet. Going to pick up your wife from work.”

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