Page 83 of The Marriage Mistake

Sadie crossed over to where I sat on the sofa and threw her arm around my shoulders. This time, I was ready for it, and I actually enjoyed being hugged. It felt good to offer my help, to be part of this small but loving community.

“Did you find anything out about the vandalism?” Sadie asked, turning to Gideon and Knox.

Knox grunted and said nothing more. Gideon pursed his lips. “Still can’t catch the guy. It seems like he’s just messing with our gear to annoy us.”

“And cost us money,” Knox rumbled. His voice was so deep it vibrated.

“You’ll figure it out,” Sadie said. “And the good news is, you have all evening to work on it if you want!” She beamed at her husband. “Your trivia services are no longer required. We have a new fourth.” She gestured to me.

I gave him a little wave.

“I’ll spectate,” Gideon replied, and I guessed it was because he wanted to watch Sadie’s back. Curiosity burned me; I wanted to find out what had happened to her to make him so protective.

Maybe, over time, I would.

It wasn’t until I was on the road on my way home to drop off the dress before trivia that I realized I was making long-term plans.

I wanted to tear up the contract Jack and I had signed, forget about divorcing him and paying him out, and stay here for good.

It should have been terrifying, but all that existed inside me was happiness.

JACK

After picking Darby up from basketball practice, I came home to a quiet house and a note on the table informing me Ember was at Bertie’s for trivia night, and there was food in the fridge for me and Darby to reheat for dinner.

Darby fell on the food and ate like she hadn’t had a morsel in a week. We didn’t speak much, and I realized it was our first dinner without Ember since she’d come into our lives.

I missed her.

When Darby stomped over to the piano to practice, my phone buzzed.

EMBER: We won!!!

I blinked at the message. Never in all our acquaintance had Ember used an emoji.

JACK: What’s the prize?

EMBER: Terrible beer

JACK: Are you drunk?

EMBER: Mybe.

Emojis and a typo. She was wasted.

JACK: I’ll come pick you up.

EMBER: Is ok. I’ll take

I stared at the emoji of the taxi and snorted. There was exactly one taxi in Marswood Harbor, which meant it would be faster for Ember to walk than to wait for a cab. There was no way she was walking home on her own.

JACK: I’m on my way.

EMBER: Caroline will be mad.

JACK: I don’t care.

Darby was old enough to stay home alone for a half hour, so I told her where I was going and went to collect my wife. I found her red-cheeked and bright-eyed, laughing with her girlfriends and Gideon. I nodded at my brother and returned my gaze to Ember. She was so beautiful I couldn’t look away. When she saw me, her face lit up and she lifted her arms like she wanted me to pick her up. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her neck.