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He’s doing it to antagonize her.
When he brought me slowly upright, my heart sank to my feet as he looked over toward his parents. Mr. Beckman saluted us from where he and Hailey sat with Jess, a clear indication we were free to leave without further engaging the enemy, but it made me wonder if he’d been looking for a reaction.
That left us free to make our way toward the deck, where Steve was helping Grams up from the sofa and into the house.
“Hey.” Kennedy’s voice was soft as she came down the stairs. “Don’t forget all your gifts–and let me send some food home with you.”
“Can I come back for everything after the meeting tomorrow?” I asked, wincing just a little. It was a big ask, especially after ducking out on someone who’d thrown us a last-minute wedding reception and rallied all the troops for the baby I was desperate to adopt. Kennedy was a saint, one who could out-curse a sailor, but she had a heart of gold.
“Yeah.” Her smile was sweet and I stepped forward to hug her, squeezing and rocking because I didn’t have the words to convey the thanks I owed her. “We have a ton of leftovers, in fact. Why don’t you two come over tomorrow night for dinner? You can tell us how it went.”
“Thanks, Kenny.” Adam leaned in right next to me and wrapped us both up in his big arms, and Kennedy giggled. “This is a love sandwich and I’m the slice of onion. No one wants an onion in their sandwich.” She wriggled to free herself, a devious grin on her face. “Now get out of here, you two, before Grams decides to help herself to another handful of Adam’s butt. Besides…” She nudged me with her elbow. “I’m sure you have some similar ideas.” Her eyebrows started bouncing again.
The entryway was just dark enough that I couldn’t see Adam blush, but I could feel it. I heard him swallow hard and wondered if he was remembering the dozens of times people had begun banging on their glasses during the afternoon and evening–Kennedy had made sure there wasn’t a plastic cup in sight.
I’d gotten in some good ones over the afternoon and I had to admit to myself I wasn’t eager to see the day over. Now we’d establish some kind of temporary new normal and I was fairly certain I would have no such delightful chances to kiss him again–not without blatantly throwing myself at him, which had been historically unsuccessful.
Though we drove in silence, he held my hand the whole way home. But rather than feel the butterflies slamming into my stomach, I got the distinct impression he’d done it to tell me,We’re in this together now.Solidarity was great, but it wasn’t very sexy.
Bailey stumbled sleepily to the door and we both leaned over to pat his solid rump and scrub his ears. He groaned in contentment as he leaned against Adam’s leg while Adam rubbed his ears and I scratched that hard-to-reach spot near his tail.
“We make a good team.” Adam chuckled quietly, straightening, and the dog sauntered into the grass to take care of pressing matters.
“Makes the dream work,” I muttered, feeling suddenly, ridiculously down for what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
“Yeah.” He stared out into the yard, waiting for Bailey to finish, and I caught the same note of wistfulness in his voice.
“Do you regret it?” I asked softly, kicking myself immediately for the words that should never have come out of my mouth. I was opening a door that shouldn’t be opened.
“Divorcing Jess?” He turned to look at me, and I was surprised that was what he’d chosen, but I could work with that.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Or marrying you?”
Nice diversion, Beckman.
“Uh…both.”
“You’re not the jealous type.” He moved toward me with a smile on his face. “It’s cute.”
“Curiosity isn’t jealousy, and neither of them are cute.” I huffed. I was totally jealous and he was right, thatwasn’tlike me.
“Both things were for a very good reason,” he said, and Bailey came flying toward me from the yard, knocking into my leg hard enough to drive me backward and Adam’s hand shot out to steady me. “And I wouldn’t mind…no one’s ever been jealous over me.” He smiled tentatively, but there was an insecurity in it that I couldn’t understand. How he’d fixated on that I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t know what to say to it.
“I can sleep in the other room,” he offered softly, and I looked up in surprise.
“Why would you do that?” That was the last thing I wanted. It was our wedding night, damn it, and fake marriage or not, I had some opinions about how the night should end.
“I made a promise to you.” He swallowed hard. “But I also made a promise to your brother.”
Thanks a lot, Steve. Butt out.
“I made a promise, too.” I waited until he shut the door and flipped the light off. There was just enough light in the kitchen that I could still make things out clearly enough, and I knew he was avoiding me as he filled up Bailey’s bowl with food.
“I promised I wouldn’t go easy on you, and that I’d be loyal. Remember that pesky part where you’re my husband now?”
He turned to face me again, his jaw tight as I considered peeling the tank top over my head. I had very little hope it would work this time, but I was tempted to give it another shot.
