AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look at my phone again. Ash should’ve called by now. It’s not like her to not follow orders.
“Okay, we’re out. We’ve got to get back. Congrats on the wedding, big bro.” Enzo stands and sets some money on the table. “Let us know when you guys register.”
I flip him off, and he laughs.
“Bye, guys.” Annie hugs and kisses everyone before following Enzo out of the restaurant.
As my gaze follows them, I blink because I can’t be seeing what I’m seeing.
She knows this is where I lunch on Thursdays. How many times last year did I stop by her studio for a quickie after lunch?
Val’s in ballet tights, small skirt, and a leotard. She has a small wrap to cover her curves, but it’s not enough to keep the other patrons from appreciating her body. Our eyes catch, and her shoulders fall. Without a smile, she weaves through the tables, followed by a trail of gazes checking out her ass. I’m not happy with the way other men look at her as she makes her way to me, and by the time she reaches the table, I’m annoyed.
“It’s my new sister!” Carm stands and embraces Val in a huge hug, swaying both of them. “I knew it was just a matter of time.”
“Carm, are you sure you’re not the leak?” She allows him to kiss her on each cheek before she gives the opportunity to Bella.
“So good to see you.” They embrace, then Bella looks at Carm. “We should get back.”
Carm, the asshole he is, acts as if he doesn’t understand. “I want to spend time with my new sister,” he pretends to whine, all while opening his billfold and laying money on the table. “But I do have things I’d like to do rather than play mediator between the two of you.”
I roll my eyes and say my goodbyes to Bella.
“See you at Sunday dinner.” Carm’s laughter echoes through the crowded restaurant, and I catch poor Katie watching him and Bella walk out.
“May I?” Val signals toward an empty chair.
“You are my wife. Would you like me to pull out the chair first?”
She rolls her eyes and sits down, keeping her purse attached to her arm and sliding closer to the table. She’s not here to eat, I guess. “I ran by your office, forgetting that you’re here. I thought maybe with your brothers’ new girlfriends…”
“That we didn’t meet anymore?” I ask.
She shrugs. “That maybe you didn’t have hook-up war stories to swap anymore.”
“Nah, now we just talk about how I married someone in Vegas and how Ma is making me stay married to her and how she’s moving into my condo this weekend.”
“About that…”
“Do you have a plan where we don’t have to move in together?”
Her eyes stay trained on me, and she shakes her head, worry furrowing her brow. “No, unfortunately, I’m still arriving first thing Saturday morning, after Max picks up Ryder. But I figure we need to set some ground rules first.”
“Ground rules?” I inhale a deep breath, sure that this conversation will annoy me to no end. I pick my fork up to get back to my lunch.
Our waitress approaches again. “Did you want anything?”
“No, I’m leaving shortly,” Val says with a smile.
“Okay, let me know if you change your mind.” The waitress leaves.
“Listen, I get that we’re doing this whole fake marriage thing for our parents’ sakes. I don’t want to disappoint mine as much as you don’t want to disappoint yours. But I can’t live with you while you’re sleeping around.”
My fork drops from my hand into my bowl of mac and cheese. “I thought you were talking about cleaning up the kitchen at night or making sure to put the toilet seat down. Not where my dick goes.”
“All of those are up for discussion too, but I won’t allow you to embarrass me.” She lets her statement hang there for a minute as we lock eyes.
I know what she’s not saying. She’s already been through that once before when Max was her husband.
