“We w-want to get you on my insur-rance as s-soon as possible. The paperw-work will take s-some time.”
She places the pizza on the dining room table and hands me a plate. “What’s your family like? Will they be upset?”
I grab my neck. “In general, th-they’re cool. But Zander was-sn’t so pleased with Zach sh-showing up with Hope after th-their wedding.”
I’m sure he won’t be pleased with me either.
“Zach didn’t tell anyone about his wife?” Her eyes widen when I shake my head.
“Zach and Hope had a contr-ract wedding, but now they’re t-totally in love.” I can’t even imagine Zach without Hope and Ray anymore.
The pizza she just placed on her table sits forgotten, and she looks at me under her lashes. “Are we doing the same thing? Contract?”
“Fuck no. No contr-ract. We’ll get mar-rried for real, and th-then whenever you want, we’ll get…divorced.” Just saying that word fills my mouth with a bitter taste. She bites her lips and looks at me indecisively, but I continue, as she needs to know everything before she really makes a decision. “But…we’ll most likely have to go thr-rough a proper wedding with all the flower and cake stuff. My br-rothers won’t let th-that shit go.”
Her mouth twists and her gaze flicks from my face to the table.
I clear my throat and pick up my soda can. “You can s-still say no, if you th-think all of this is too weird.” I shift in my seat, hating the uncomfortableness seeping in.
“Zane, I’m worried about your family,” Vienna whispers as she runs her finger back and forth over the wooden counter. “You come from such a close group, and I feel like we’re cheating them.”
“W-we are cheat-ting no one.” I’m hit with fresh guilt, but try not to think about it. “We’re getting mar-rried for real. There’s noth-thing fake about it. Our mar-rriage just comes with an expir-ration date.”
“And you’re okay with this?”
I nod, and at the same moment, Tassels jumps into my arms, as if accepting me into his family. I hope his mom does too.
“I never had a big family, and I always wanted one. But now I don’t even know if I’ll be able to have kids. These medical procedures mess with your body and hormones in a nasty way, you know.”
My head jerks to her wistful face and I want to tell her that she doesn’t have to worry. She can have everything she wants in this life. But then I realize she isn’t asking me for advice. I’m just a temporary fake husband. When she gets better, there’ll be someone else for her who’ll be perfect in every way and will fulfill all her cherished dreams.
I shake the gloominess approaching me from all directions and focus on the sad girl sitting before me. “Vienna, your for-remost task right now is t-to get healthy, and family d-doesn’t always have to be blood. When you meet ever-ryone tomorrow, you’ll see it. Both of my nephews ar-ren’t my br-rothers’ biological kids.”
Her head jerks up. “Really?”
I nod. “My family is an unconvent-tional bunch, but we all love each oth-ther regardless.”
Vienna’s eyes look almost dreamy under the yellow light of the hanging lamp. “Zane, it might be my wacky brain speaking, but I really want to marry you, now more than before. Not only because you are the sweetest person I’ve ever met but because I can’t wait to see this perfect life around you…even if it’s for a short time.”
A thrill courses through my body every time she says she’ll marry me. “S-sleep over it.” Even when I say the words, a weird feeling of emptiness takes over my body.
We finish the pizza in near silence, except for Tassels’ little barking whenever he finishes the crumbs we fling his way.
After throwing the empty box into the garbage bin, I turn around and glance at her small apartment. It has a modest, modern interior, but a woman’s soft touch can be seen in every corner.
There are several plants, the pots either painted in light, fun colors or hidden under wicker holders.
My gaze shoots to the window seat, where she hid herself in my arms while my heart was ready to catapult out of my chest. There are throw pillows and a threaded blanket, the purpose of which seems to be more cosmetic than actually providing any warmth.
Her place has controlled beauty, a complete contrast to mine. I’ve allowed everything that nature will let me have inside my house. Including Mystery.
Will she miss this too much?
“D-do you love th-this ap-partment?”
She shrugs. “It’s nice.”
I nod. Of course it’s nice. I should definitely change things at my place. I know I should leave, but God, what wouldn’t I do to have her in my arms one more time tonight. You’re doomed, Zane.