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“Yeah. I doubt I’d be able to keep my ex-wife on my insurance.”
“I see.” Seconds went by, leading into minutes, while Lucy lay there, staring at the ceiling, a small frown on her brow. I could almost hear the cogs turning and I started preparing more arguments. But then she shocked the ever-living fuck out of me. “I’ve thought about it. My answer is yes.”
Relief flooded my veins and I sagged against the back of the chair. “Great, I’ll get it all set up.”
“Okay.”
There was nothing else to say, so I told her to get some rest and I’d be back later.
Neither of us had even smiled.
CHAPTER20
Lucy
Had any bride in the history of the world ever looked shittier than I did? Probably not. I still wore yesterday’s baggy sweater and leggings with my dark brown sheepskin boots. I’d accessorized with a cute pair of pressure point wrist bands given to me by the hospital to help with the nausea. At least I’d been able to shower and wash my hair.
Still, I felt a million times better than I had yesterday. An overnight stay in the hospital, proper hydration and a good night’s sleep had me feeling like a different person. This different person, unfortunately, was questioning the decisions made by the weak, painfully unwell version of herself yesterday.
I’d been so terrified when I woke to find myself in the hospital, hooked up to machines that beeped ominously. My first thought had been that I’d lost the baby and I’d been overwhelmed by the devastation that swamped me. Dante’s unshaking belief that this was the right move, was what had me pushing the car door open and stepping out into the freezing December air.
He closed the car door behind me, but before I could head to the steps of the Goldsboro Courthouse steps, he put his hand on my arm. It was the first time he’d touched me since catching me yesterday. “Here. You need this.”
I looked down to see he was holding out a ring box. “Are you serious?”
“If we’re really gonna go through with this, we may as well do it right.”
“I guess.” I took the box and opened it, blinking a little at the simple diamond solitaire ring. It wasn’t flashy, but it also didn’t exactly look cheap. “This is a bit much for a fake marriage, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “If this were for real, that’s the kind of ring I’d choose for you. I don’t want anyone thinking I’d give you junk.”
I wasn’t really sure what to say to that, so without another word, I slipped the ring on my finger. The weirdest thing was that it was pretty much exactly what I would choose for myself, if this were real. Hoo boy, that was a path it was much better not to walk down. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Ten minutes later, we were husband and wife. Dante had taken care of everything, including wedding rings. How odd to see a wedding band on his left hand and know it was because of me.
“I’ll drive you home.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Yes, it is.”
“It’s two hours.”
“And?”
“How will you get back again?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
I sighed. Man, he was stubborn. “Fine.” Maybe it was for the best. The long drive would give me the chance to say what I had to say. I slipped into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt. Dante turned the key, giving the car a moment to warm up.
“Here, you need these,” he said, reaching into the back seat and, picking up a small shopping bag, dropped it in my lap.
There were some dry crackers, pretzels, some boiled candy, an apple and two bottles of juice. A snack bag. He’d made me a snack bag. “Oh,” was all I could think to say.
Easing the car into traffic, he explained, “You need small, regular meals so you don’t get sick again.”
“Of course. Thanks.”
