Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
“Yeah. If you want to understate it like that.”
“Jo... Jonas?” Olivia says behind me in a meek voice.
My brother’s face turns to a scowl. “Olivia? The fuck are you doing here?”
“Do... do you two know one another?” I say, looking back and forth between them.
“Yeah, she cheated on me like the slut she is!”
“I told you a million times,” Olivia says in a quietly stern voice, “Dalton is gay and one of my friends from college.”
“Likely cover.”
“I write a fashion column. I’ve studied fashion. Why are you surprised I have gay friends?”
“Just seems awfully convenient. I saw how he touched you.”
“A hug? Yeah, he’s touchy, but it was a friendly hug. If you’re so insecure that you can’t handle any sort of other masculine attention on me, you did me a favor by breaking up with me.”
I raise a finger, very confused by what I’m hearing. “You were dating? And then you broke up? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what we’re saying,” Olivia confirms. “It was a year ago.”
“Why didn’t you say you dated my brother?”
“How the hell was I supposed to know he was your brother?”
“You knew my last name!”
She glares at me, an annoyed look in her eyes. “You told me your last name was Smith. Like, the most common last name in all of America and many other English-speaking countries. You may as well have assumed I should have known you were brothers because you’ve got the same hair color.”
“She’s bad news, Cam,” Jonas warns. “She’s going to go behind your back and break your heart. I hope she’s just here for a one-night stand, because I will say she’s pretty wild in the sack.”
I shake my head, trying to get a hold of this quite frankly bizarre situation. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about my wife like that, Jonas.”
“I’m just saying that’s how she is...” Jonas freezes, as if the words I said are just now processing in his brain. “Wait, what? Did you say she’s your wife?”
“Yes? I love her. So I hope you’ll choose your words more carefully.”
When I indirectly declare my love for her, Olivia’s expression softens.
Jonas’s brain takes a bit to catch up with everything. “Weren’t you whining like, a week ago, about how you’re single and you hate it?”
“Yes. I fixed the problem.”
“In a week?”
“I saw no point in dawdling, Jonas.”
“You don’t go and get married in a week, Cameron!”
“Well, I did.” I go to Olivia’s side and place a hand over her shoulder, pulling her close. “Olivia and I want the same things. We want marriage. We want children. We see a lot of potential in one another, so we decided to take a chance on one another. And so far? It’s paying off wonderfully.”
Jonas starts massaging his temples. “So you go and marry my ex. My ex, of all people.”
“In my defense, I had no idea she was your ex.”
“She’s gotta be after your money, man. She’s gotta be up to something. I’m worried about you. She’s going to break your heart. I just know it.”
“If that happens, it happens. But I know what I want, Jonas. And I want Olivia. You’re going to have to learn to cope with her being around, because I’m not going to let go of her easily.”
He closes his eyes and starts shaking his head. I have to admit that I understand why he might think I’ve suddenly gone full flipping insane. I just don’t care.
“Fine. You’re an adult. You can do what you want, and that includes making your own mistakes.”
“Glad to see we have an understanding.”
“I’ma leave you two be. For now, at least. I just wanted to check that you were okay, Cam. You know how your lack of communication makes me worry sometimes.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
Jonas turns and leaves as quickly as he came. Once again, my wife and I are alone.
“Well, that was interesting,” she says.
“Does this change anything for you, Olivia?”
“Why would it?”
“I think you would have shown more hesitation if you knew I was your ex’s brother.”
“Maybe I would have.”
“If you’re having second thoughts, we can always take a step back. Go get an annulment, even. I don’t want to force you into anything you don’t want.”
“Not necessary. I had doubts, Cameron. But they’ve all quickly melted away. Every moment I’m with you, I’m more sure I’ve made the right decision.”
“Even if the consequences could last you nine months? To say nothing of the rest of your life? This truly doesn’t change anything for you?”
She exhales, a hand resting on her abdomen, which would inevitably soon swell with the results of our actions. “Hell no. What about you? Do you have any doubts after what he said about me?”
I pull her close. I kiss her on the forehead. “No. My brother can be jealous, and an idiot. I have no doubt you acted honorably. I’m just glad he dumped you so that I could find you.”