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Luc follows my gaze and grins. “You sure about that? You look like a cross between a psycho and a man about to take his last breath.”
“I look just fine,” I snap, gritting my teeth. “If you don’t have anything sensible to say, fuck off.”
He laughs. “Jesus, Grayson. Cool off. How about we take a moment to acknowledge the fact that you did what you planned to do? You did it.”
“Yeah, I did.”
“She's River Grayson now.”
“River Grayson.” That name in my head stokes my primal instincts again, but I hold them back and remember what she said.Wife only on paper.
“Now what, bro? You haven't talked about the next part.”
He means the in-between. The pocket of time before River and I are supposed to end. I haven't spoken about it because I haven't been thinking about it.
“We just live,” I reply. “We both have work to do, and we'll be busy with that. It's not like we need to be stuck together.”
“But what if you weren't working? Would it be such a bad thing to be stuck together?” Luc sips his drink.
“Yes.” I knock back my drink in one gulp. When I set my glass back down, I look at my wife again.
Luc leans in. “Looks like that’s going to be quite the challenge. You don’t seem to be doing so well.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
“I'd beg to differ. And just a friendly word of advice you might want to take...” His voice trails off, and I glare at him.
“What? What advice?”
“Have you considered that just maybe you could be happy with her?”
I smirk without humor. Of course, I have. A million times over and then some, but that confession won’t leave the confines of my mind.
“I'm being serious, Jericho.”
“I know you are.”
“Then listen to me. The past is the past. Why not leave it there?” He holds my gaze.
I drop my voice to a whisper and say, “You’re assuming I want this.”
He gives me a wide toothy grin. “Because you do, my friend. Take it from a guy who’s known you all your life.” Luc nods then pours himself another drink. “The only thing I’ve ever known you to want in life is her. Now she’s your wife. Go figure.”
He grabs the glass then marches away, leaving me with that thought.
I look back at River again. She must feel my eyes on her because she looks back this time.
From all the way over here, I note a shift in her expression, like a peek of emotion poking its head through, but then she looks away and continues ignoring me.
Everybody seems to be right except for me. Even when I choose the right thing that will benefit everyone.
The only sure thing I seem to know at this moment is that if I fuck my wife again, I’ll be nothing more than a doomed fool, destined to dig the pit for his own downfall and ruin.
* * *
Luc’s words stay with me long after he leaves, and I’m still thinking about what he said as I board my jet for Italy. River has already boarded, but I had to hang back to discuss some last-minute stuff with Knight because he’ll be in Arizona while I’m away.
Traveling with me are Lauren to keep River company at the villa we’ll be staying in, Brady, and Corey. Even though Corey annoyed the fuck out of me earlier, he’s here in Knight’s absence to help me with the admin work and the contracts.
