Page 111 of Possession

“I’ve got a meeting I need to be at in person in Manhattan. Pack a bag, baby. You’re coming with me.”

A look of joy fills her eyes. “Really? I get to come with you?”

I nod and wonder if that’s the last time I’ll see that expression in her bottomless blues.

“Yeah, but I need you to do something for me.”

The sweetest smile spreads across her face. “Anything. I’ll do anything for you.”

Shit.

The feeling that she’s about to slip through my fingers strangles me. I shove that thought away and frame her face in my hands. “Some shit came up. I can’t explain now. I need to buy plane tickets and book a room. But I want you to promise—no, I need you to promise—that you’ll keep an open mind.”

She wraps her hands around my wrists. “My father spent his life pretending he doesn’t work in organized crime, but he does. We’re married, I know what you do, and I’m shockingly okay with it only because it’s you. I never, ever thought I’d be okay with being right here. I’m not sure what else there is for me to have an open mind about.”

Shit.

I press my mouth to hers for the simple fact I have no fucking idea what to say.

When I finally let her go, I decide to keep it simple and deal with the truth later. “Get packed.”

Her smile lights from within as a dark storm brews within me. “I’m so excited. I’ve only left the house for a funeral since you brought me here. This will be like a honeymoon.”

She gives me one more peck on the lips and heads straight to her closet.

Honeymoon.

If only.

26

ASSHOLE

Landyn

Something else hubbalicious needs to learn about me is that I am not a fast packer. It goes hand in hand with being late. When I go on a trip, it requires forethought, lists, and plenty of options, not to mention time to change my mind.

Basically, I’m a high-maintenance traveler.

But that wasn’t an option today. I had approximately forty-three minutes to pack. I didn’t have time to check the weather in the Big Apple or figure out what our plans were when we got there so I’d have the appropriate choices. Hell, my groom didn’t even tell me how long we’d be there.

I honestly can’t remember what’s in my suitcase, but there’s a one-hundred-percent chance I’m going to need to go shopping when we get there.

I overheard B explain to Spencer that something came up and he had to be at meetings in Manhattan. I spent those two minutes hugging Rocco and wishing him good luck on his test tomorrow.

Then we were gone.

We barely got through security and had to run to our gate. We were the last ones on the plane, the door hit us in the ass, and by the time we were settled in our first-class seats, I could barely breathe and was making promises to myself to hit the fancy home gym when we got back.

Once we were settled, I asked about our trip. B just gave me a peck on the lips and told me we’d talk about it when we were alone.

I watched a movie, napped, ate every snack they gave me and one of B’s, drank two glasses of wine, and silently complained to myself about being stiff. What I did not do is play games or scroll on my phone.

Because, I still don’t have one.

My husband spent the five-hour flight alternating between working on spreadsheets and pinching the bridge of his nose.

I have no idea what happened that caused us to jump on the first flight out of San Diego, but it can’t be good.