“I asked, didn’t I?”
“Yes, my plans changed, but hers have not. This is still an agreement with amended terms.”
“I see.” I can tell my answer aggravates him, but what can he say? Like McKinley said, we’re both consenting adults—married consenting adults.
“We got your gift,” I say, putting it out there. If he wants to talk about this shit, then we can talk about it. I’d rather do it now than when McKinley is around to hear it.
“I went back to the room three times before I actually left it there. I fought with myself over and over. I knew the two of you weren’t planning to spend the night anywhere else and by the way you kept looking at her . . . I just thought better safe than sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s weird for me, seeing you with her like that. I mean, I’ve watched the two of you grow closer, but since Lex was born, it’s just different between the two of you.”
“It’s been happening for months, man. She’s . . . amazing.”
Aaron turns to look at me. I can feel his stare, but I keep my gaze on the water.
My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my pocket. It’s a text from Kinley, a picture of Lexi curled up on her chest sleeping.
“That my sister?” Aaron asks.
“My wife,” I reply. The words falling from my lips. I should have just said yes.
“You told her.” It’s not a question. I have to tear my eyes away from my girls to answer him.
“No.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, shame washes over me. I wanted to tell her, almost did.
“I think you’re making a mistake.”
“I just . . . can’t tell her okay.”
Aaron throws his head back and laughs. Probably scaring all the fish, fucker. “It’s easy to see, man. You think I would have left you a box of condoms in a hotel room with my baby sister, marriage license or not, if I didn’t know you loved her? She knows me better than that. I’m sure she can see right through you just like the rest of us.”
“You can’t tell her.”
That sobers him up. “No, you need to tell her.”
“This is different for her. She cares about me, but she loves my daughter. She reminds me daily that we both will be walking away from this. Until then, I want to hold on tight to every moment she’s my wife. Moments like kissing her goodbye and asking if she’s okay with me leaving. I don’t need her permission, but I want to share it all with her. That all comes with it,” I explain.
“I get it, but I think you’re wrong. She loves both of you.”
How I wish that were true. We could drop this agreement bullshit and just be . . . us. “She’s adamant, man. She constantly says that this is just temporary.”
“I call bullshit.”
I shrug. “I won’t pressure her to change her mind. I want her happy. More than anything, that’s what matters to me. If leaving me once this shit is worked out with Misty’s parents is what she wants, then I have to live with that.”
My phone vibrating in my pocket breaks the silence. Digging it out, it’s another text from McKinley. This time it’s her and Lexi both wide awake, lying on the bed, smiling up at the camera. The caption says, “We miss you.”
“Your wife?” Aaron smirks.
“Yes.” I hold the phone up so he can see the picture.
“Like I said, I call bullshit. Let’s pack up and head out. Fish aren’t biting and I really just wanted to get you away from your wife, so we could talk.”
“Yeah,” I say, saving both pictures and then sliding the phone back in my pocket.
We pack up and are back on the road in no time. “Never thought it would be my little sister, man, but I’m happy for you.”