Page 94 of Married to Lies

With a sigh, I gave up on sleep and grabbed my phone from my nightstand. If I wasn’t going to rest, I might as well be entertained. I scrolled through social media, getting the usual mix of joke videos, celebrity gossip, and travel vlogs.

This used to be my way to wind down, to zone out, maybe even dream of new places to go. But my intuition gnawed at me that I wanted more than entertainment and travel inspiration. So I switched out of the app and opened a text thread with my best friend.

Rei: I’m not sure if you’re up, but I know my goddaughter keeps crazy hours...

Jada: I’m up. Twyla’s sleeping. Just having a hard time going to bed without Bryce here.

Rei: I can’t sleep without Quentin here, and I’ve been married a day. Isn’t that pathetic?

Jada: LOL. Honest answer?

Rei: Off to throw myself a good pity party. Bring the wine.

Jada: It’s not pathetic. You’re going through a lot of change. It makes sense your mind is racing.

My frantic heart settled a bit. This is exactly what I’d been needing: not a mind-numbing feed but a friend who understood what I was going through.

Rei: When did it go from a marriage of convenience to something real for you and Bryce?

Jada: After I told him about my pregnancy. I was having feelings for him before that, but letting him in and seeing his reaction showed me that we could be something solid.

A heavy weight landed in my stomach as I scanned over her words. I was determined to tell Quentin every detail of my past when he returned, but I didn’t know how he’d react.

Rei: I’m worried what he’ll think when I tell him.

Logically, I’d known that I was young and naïve when I was sued and had to change my name and start over. But now? I was a fully-grown woman being blackmailed. Not a good start to any relationship, especially a marriage.

Jada: Quentin’s job is hard. He understands having to make difficult choices. Besides, I saw the way he looked at you on your wedding day. I can tell he has real feelings for you too.

My heart warmed at the memory of his deep-brown eyes on mine as I walked down the aisle. I’d never get used to being adored that way, and I hoped I wouldn’t lose it soon.

A new notification flashed across the screen, but this time, it wasn’t a text from my friend. It was a call from my husband.

An excited shiver went up my spine, and I quickly swiped the button to answer. “Hello?” I said as I brought the phone to my ear.

“Rei.” My name sounded so damn good on his lips.

“Husband,” I replied.

His sigh came heavy through the phone, and I felt it in my bones. The relief, the desire, everything in between. Eventually, he said, “They’re taking our phones away tomorrow morning.”

A rock dropped in my gut at the words, and the weight of my reaction surprised me. How had he gone from being a stranger to someone I wanted to see every day? If I were being honest, just seeing him wasn’t enough. I wanted time to discover and explore these new feelings I was experiencing. I wanted to tell him the truth and see if this could be something real, like Jada said.

“Say something,” Quentin asked.

“I miss you.” It was weak, but he heard me anyway.

“I miss you,” he echoed. “The thought of going back to my house when I return and not seeing you in the morning...” He stumbled over his syllables for a moment, an echo of his childhood struggle, and then finally said, “Keep your house. Keep your last name. But please be at my place when I come home.”

“For the night?” I asked, core clenching at the memory of him.

“For good.”

I covered my mouth with my hand.

He wasn’t just asking me to sleep with him. He was asking me to be with him. And my heart leapt. But my nerves flared too. “Are you sure?” I asked. Everything was happening so fast.

“I’ve never been more sure.” He said it so simply, like there wasn’t a doubt to be found for miles.