Page 68 of Married to Lies

I arched my brows. “You haven’t told them?”

“I keep meaning to call, but I just imagine what they’ll say...” She lowered her voice to imitate her dad. “Does he play golf? Can he be my son instead?” She laughed like it was a joke, but the hint of hurt on her face was clear to me. Then she raised her voice to be higher pitched. “How could you be so careless! You’ve always been so impulsive! Call it off right this second!” Rei frowned. “Since I won’t be calling it off...” She sighed and shook her head. “What did your mom say when you told her?”

I could tell Rei didn’t want to talk about her parents, so I thought back to the phone call with mine. “Mom asked me what the rush was and in the same breath told me good job for locking you down and asked when grand babies were coming.”

“That’s quite the lung capacity,” Rei said, a twinkle in her eyes.

“You have to have that with two boys at home.” I held out my elbow for her, and she easily looped her hands through. My chest puffed up, knowing she was mine.

We reached the elevator and I pushed R, scanning my wallet over the card reader.

“The roof?” Rei asked.

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. I couldn’t wait to see the expression on her face when the elevator doors opened.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long. The metal doors parted, giving us a view of the helicopter waiting, with a backdrop of the Dallas skyline glowing with the oncoming sunset.

“A helicopter?” Rei yelled over the sound of the engine. She stared at me openmouthed. “Are you Batman?”

“No.” I smirked. “I’m richer.”

She cackled with delight and picked up her gauzy skirt, hurrying to the waiting chopper. She examined it up close, exchanging a few words with the pilot, and he handed her a headset.

I’d seen all the wonders of the world. Dined in the finest restaurants, stayed in hotels with the most incredible views. But the sight of Rei, turning back to me with pure delight on her face... I’d never seen anything more beautiful.

My smile came easier than ever, rearranging my features like she was rearranging my heart into something more open, more willing to trust, more hopeful that there was good in the world after all.

When I got nearer, the pilot greeted me with a handshake and then a headset.

I put mine on and then helped Rei into the helicopter. She held on to my hand and then settled into a luxe leather seat by the expansive window.

“I can’t believe we’re going on a helicopter ride,” she said as I sat next to her, voice coming clearly through my headphones. “I’ve only ever been on tourist rides and—” She stared at me, eyes flaring wide. “Wait, is this your helicopter?”

“I’m Batman, remember,” I said in explanation.

Her laugh brightened the world just as thoroughly as her smile did.

The pilot cut in, letting us know about takeoff procedures, and then the door shut and the blades roared to life, increasing the little noise that permeated the noise-cancelling headphones.

The helicopter rose, then dipped to turn, and Rei grabbed my arm tightly, painted nails digging in. I covered her hand with one of mine, giving her a look I hoped was reassuring.

With a sheepish smile, she slid her hand down to mine and wound our fingers together. Just that gesture had my chest feeling warm, like melted chocolate.

The flight steadied, but Rei kept her hold on my hand, gentler now. For a time, we looked out the window as sunset transformed the city below. The orange-and-yellow light cast her tawny skin in a beautiful glow.

“Wow...” she said, just loud enough for the mic to catch it.

“Wow,” I agreed. I’d tried watching the city, but the view of my future wife enjoying it was so much better.

Most people were too cool, too aloof to show their delight in things as simple as a sunset. Like me, holding my feelings close so others wouldn’t use them as weapons against me. But Rei seemed to feel it all, each emotion sliding over her face like words on a teleprompter for me to read. I treasured each one, storing it away like the pages of my favorite story waiting to be bound.

She turned to me, confused. “Are we leaving Dallas?”

“We are.” As proof, the cityscape below was transforming, the houses growing farther apart. Grids of streets giving way to two-lane highways. “I have a surprise.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Is the surprise that you’re actually a stalker and you’re going to murder me?”

I heard the pilot laugh, and heat rose on my cheeks.