Page 24 of Married to Lies

Irritability rose up in me, making my jaw clench even as I handed her over softly.

Her little face screwed up like she was ready to scream, but Bryce stood up and rocked with her, shushing her so gently my heart softened just a fraction. “But when will he tell her?” I pressed. “Once they’re three dates in?” I gave him a pointed look. “Once she’s attached, so he can have a better chance at a ‘yes’? It’s not fair to Rei. It was one thing to keep our business private when it only affected us; it’s another to keep secrets from my best friend that could change the course of her life.”

“You signed an NDA,” he reminded me. He gazed down at Twyla, so much love in his eyes. It was hard to be mad at him when he looked at our little girl like that.

But then again, I was a woman of many talents.

“So if I tell her, you’re going to sue me?” I retorted under my breath.

He kept his gaze on our girl a moment longer before giving me a tired look. “If she finds out, it’s not going to be hard to guess who told her. I won’t sue you, but I wouldn’t put it past any of my co-founders, especially⁠—”

I held up my hand, not wanting to hear that man’s name in my house. “So I just have to watch her get ready for a date and not say anything? It would be like letting her drive into oncoming traffic!” My hands waved to match my growing frustration, but Bryce arched a brow.

“You’re saying a date with Quentin is like a head-on?”

I glared at him. “You know what I mean.”

“Frankly, Jada, the marriage clause is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

My heart warmed, easing me out of my anger. “It worked out well for us, but Quentin and Rei?”

“Are adults,” he emphasized. “You can do what you want, but I’m telling you I think we should let them handle it on their own.”

I shook my head, feeling unsure about it all. “I’m going to eat in the bedroom.” I got up and walked away with my bowl, ready to stew about it while I ate my stew.

I fell asleep instead.

When I woke up, blinking my tired, groggy eyes, the bowl of soup had been moved and a soft throw blanket tucked up around my shoulders. Twyla lay in her bassinet on my side of the bed for easy feedings, and Bryce slept on the opposite side, back facing me.

His ribcage expanded and relaxed with each breath, emphasized by the sliver of light coming through a gap in the curtains. Usually, seeing Bryce and Twyla sleeping was a balm to my soul, but my heart still felt heavy for Rei. Her date with Quentin was tomorrow afternoon, and she was coming over here before. I still wasn’t sure what to do.

Keep a secret from my best friend, or risk Jude’s wrath and tell her the truth.

10 Rei

Most days, I enjoyed my work at MyHome. My official title with the cleaning company was “quality assurance manager,” which basically meant I floated around the building, picking up slack as needed and making sure work was done well.

Today, however? My mind was pulled in a million directions. I had a date with Quentin tomorrow—and I couldn’t stop thinking about the almost-smile he’d given me. The words he used to describe me.

All this time, I hadn’t noticed him, but he’d seen all the best parts of me. Yet every giddy, excited thought about Quentin was followed by IBS-inducing anxiety about my meeting with Conrad. At this point, I’d seen the ground floor bathroom more times today than I’d seen Jada in the last week... and she wanted to see me before my date for reasons unknown.

What did she know about Quentin? Was it the same thing sending Conrad into a paranoid spiral?

But he seemed so normal. Was I just a bad judge of character?

My stomach soured at the thought, and I abandoned my cart for the bathroom again. Thankfully, the day was almost over.

Once I finished in the bathroom, I went ahead and changed for my meeting with Conrad. Putting on clothes I felt confident in was like an armor for me. The oversized, caramel-colored cashmere sweater? A protective cocoon I could recede into if needed. Formfitting, stretchy black jeans were perfect for sitting to converse or walking my ass out of the room if I needed to. And my tan leather booties with chunky heels made each step feel strong and purposeful as I did.

I pulled a slouchy beanie over my head to protect from the chill outside, left my jumpsuit in my locker, and then left the safety of the supply room to go to my meeting with Conrad.

But before I left MyHome...

I checked the spot on the wall, almost out of habit.

My heart leapt at the note I saw.

I hope I get to see you tomorrow. -Quentin