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“Wife.” I grab her hand and kiss her knuckles. “I love you, Mrs. Decker.”
And I do, but we’re also back to reality, back to the looming holidays and the Decker family circus.
A circus I’m not ready to unleash on her yet.
As we approach our house, a light inside catches my attention. Is it one of my siblings, or perhaps my parents? I steer the car into the garage, my mind racing with possibilities. I assist her out of the car, scooping her into my arms. Her body fits naturally against mine.
She rests softly against my shoulder, her breath warm on my skin—her arms loop gently around my neck.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Decker,” I whisper, brushing her lips with mine.
As we cross the threshold, Jude’s voice suddenly cuts through the moment. “Aw, this is such a cute picture,” he says, startling me.
I tense, turning toward him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” My voice is a mix of surprise and caution, eyes narrowing slightly as I take in his casual demeanor.
Jude stands there, nonchalantly holding a bag of chips, his longish hair tied into a bun. “Heard you got married. Decided to check on you and meet the missus,” he says with a casual shrug.
My heart races. “What the fuck?” The words escape me in a hushed exclamation. Gently but with a sense of urgency, I lower Ameline back to the ground. My mind whirls. How did Jude find out?
Anger and confusion bubbles inside me. Did Archer tell him? So much for keeping my secrets and all that best friend shit we spewed when we were younger.
“So, are you going to introduce me to your bride?” He steps forward with a grin, extending his hand. “Jude Decker, the hot one of the two,” he introduces himself with his typical arrogant air that’s only characteristic of my twin.
Ameline can’t help but laugh. “So you’re burning up and in need of medical assistance? You should check with a doctor. It sounds dangerous.”
Jude nods, his smile unwavering. “Funny.” He looks at me. “She’s funny.”
“Cut the crap,” I warn him.
“I meant that I’m the most handsome of the two among other things. You should’ve waited to meet me before marrying this asshole,” he jokes, playfully clasping my shoulder.
I shoot him a warning glance, but the moment is lightened by Ameline’s amusement. “I don’t see much of a difference between you two—since you’re identical—but it’s nice to meet you, Jude.”
“Oh, it’s all in the personality.” He winks at her. “You can always divorce him and choose me. It’s never too late.”
Before Ameline can say anything, her phone’s ringtone interrupts her. She glances at it, and a flicker of concern crosses her features.
“It’s—it’s my mom. I’ll answer upstairs,” she says quickly.
Jude’s eyes narrow as Ameline slips away to take her call. “What the fuck did you do, Gabriel?”
I’m not sure what to say, but then he continues. “You got married? Married. We don’t even know her, and suddenly you’re hitched. Did you even think about a prenup or something to protect yourself?”
“It’s none of your fucking business,” I snap back. “But who told you?”
“Archer was on his way to file your signed marriage license to make it legal.” He smirks. “The asshole thought he could hide something from me.”
“Can you keep this between us?” I ask. “Because, honestly, I’m not ready to discuss it with anyone in the family.”
“Why would you marry a woman you barely know?” Jude presses, his eyebrows arching in confusion and concern.
“It’s not like that,” I say, and then I tell him how I met Ameline and forged a friendship with her.
He shakes his head. “Archer mentioned something about her being sick, dying, even. Is that true? Did you marry her out of pity?”
His words hit me like a physical blow, igniting a fury within me. In a flash, I’m pushing him up against the wall, my face inches from his. “Shut up, asshole,” I growl, my voice a dangerous whisper. “She’s not dying. She’s going to be fine.” The words come out more as a fervent prayer than a statement of fact fueled by a mixture of fear and hope.
Jude lifts his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’m just trying to figure you out. Why are you marrying this chick all of a sudden?”
