“Sounds great,” Ford said. “I’ll help you clear the dishes.”
I wished he would defend me—and the meal—to his parents, but as usual, his mom was being a total steamroller. It seemed like Ford was just trying to get through the meal in one piece, as was I. But when I finally put dessert down, Mrs. Malone pushed the bowls aside.
“And now the real reason for this visit. We need to speak with you two about something very important,” Ford’s mother said.
His father was looking all around the room—anywhere but at me or Ford. Whatever this was about, I doubted he would say anything. Mrs. Malone was steering the ship. Per usual.
I braced myself, not knowing what to expect, but still expecting the worst.
“I know that you’re newlyweds,” Ford’s mother said. “And that you’re…having fun.”
Ford gagged. “Mother,” he said. “We don’t need to discuss this.”
“Oh, please.” Ford’s mother waved her hand. “All I’m saying is that you two need to be careful. It’s far too soon for children. You’re both so young.”
Ah. Right. So even though I’d agreed to divorce Ford within the year, she wasn’t content with my promise. She wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any new Malone offspring that would keep Ford tied to me—legally, financially, emotionally, or otherwise—in the future.
“We’re not even thinking about it,” Ford said. “Though honestly, this isn’t your business. It’s ours.”
“Ford’s right,” I agreed, noticing that Mr. Malone had somehow managed to make his entire bowl of sorbet disappear while the rest of us had been distracted.
I discreetly slid my bowl over to him, having thoroughly lost my appetite.
“You should both be focusing on your careers at this stage of your lives,” Ford’s mother went on. “And I’m certain Mara wouldn’t want to sacrifice her photography—not while she’s already struggling to make a name for herself in such a competitive field. Which, honestly…”
It wouldn’t be Mother Malone if she couldn’t find a way to compliment and insult me at the same time. With every word, every sentence, I felt smaller and smaller.
It was clear that this lecture wasn’t actually directed at Ford. It was Mrs. Malone’s way of not-so-subtly reminding me of our agreement, and the fact that I was expendable. That she’d do everything in her power to make sure that after the year was up, I’d be gone as planned. The threat of not paying off the Bratva was underneath all of it, of course, right under the surface.
The worst part was listening to Ford bend over backwards to agree with everything his mom was saying, which gave me the sinking feeling—yet again—that there really was no hope for us. It was the same feeling I’d had since this afternoon, when Ford refused to change anything in the apartment. And that was when it dawned on me.
Ford didn’t want to change the apartmentbecauseClaudia had lived here with him. I could see it all so clearly now. Helikedthe way Claudia had done things. Just like his parents did. Because Claudia wasn’t just perfect—she was perfect for him.
Ford must still be in love with her.
And me? I was just a distraction he was having fun banging. Maybe even part of a larger plot Ford had masterminded in order to make Claudia jealous—jealous enough to grovel and beg and bend to his every wish when she inevitably came back around.
And there wasn’t anything I could do about it. All I could do was perform the role I had agreed to play for the rest of the year, to the best of my ability. So that when this was all over, I’d never have to deal with the Malone family again.
Exactly the way they wanted.
Emzee
Chapter 8
By the time the Malones finally said their goodbyes and the leftover food and dirty dishes were all squared away, I wanted nothing more than to take a long, hot, soul-cleansing shower and go directly to bed.
Ideally alone.
I hated that I couldn’t go back to the sanctuary of my own apartment. I hated that I was trapped, living in what felt like a memorial to Ford’s ex-girlfriend.
Before I could make my retreat, though, Ford followed me into the bedroom, an unreadable expression on his face.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said.
“Oh really?” I snarked. “Do tell.”
I didn’t even try to hide my irritation. Who could blame me? He was the reason I’d gotten into this whole wedding mess in the first place. Specifically because he hadn’t wanted his parents pushing him with Claudia. And now this?
