Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Not even I would be able to endure smelly fish if I didn’t actually like it.”
“Oh, it’s smelly now?”
I let out a breath of relief. Things were getting way too serious in my head. It’s nice to hear her joke. Okay, maybe it’s also nice that I distracted her from talking about me for all of the three seconds. “You don’t have to be so tough, you know.” Her hand sweeps over my hair, reminding me that it’s getting long and I should get it cut, but I’ll grow it out to my ankles if she keeps smiling like that. “I mean, I know why you are, but it’s okay. You don’t have to be that way with me. You can let your guard down when it’s just us. Or my family. You don’t need your hand. They would never say anything about it. Did you see my dad’s leg? He’s had three surgeries on it, and it’s still not working. He hates the cane, and he hates that he can’t do half the things he wants to do. He would understand if there’s anyone who could.”
“They’re your parents. They have to hate me just for the fact that I’m here with you.”
“No. That’s not a thing with my parents. I’m twenty-four. Old enough to know my own mind.”
So young. So sweet. So innocent. Not for you. Not for you. Not for you.
For fuck’s sake, shut the fuck up.
Okay, eejit, whatever. God, even my thoughts are going straight back to having an Irish accent now. Everything I usually use to keep the past at bay is crumbling, and I’m slipping up, even in my own head.
“Leon, you’re safe with me.”
But are you safe with me?
“And, my parents are heading to the kitchen right now.” A clatter of pots proves her right. “They’re about to start fighting about frying the fish or baking it in the oven. My mom likes my dad to make healthy choices, but my dad only likes his fish fried. I better go and intercede. After that, we’re going to have a fire, but my parents aren’t staying the night.”
“Because they found out that we did dirty things in their bed?”
“Okay, it’s just the queen-sized bed in the big room. It’s not their bed.” Darby shudders, but her eyes are glowing like she likes the idea of being just a little bit naughty. “But no, it’s because they want to give us privacy or something. They surprised us, and they’ve met you now, so they can go home and know that I’m just fine. Everything is fine.”
“Until they find out that you’re fake married.”
“Yeah, I’m going to tell them before they leave.”
“Are you serious? Give me some warning so I can run into the woods. There are probably lots of good hiding spots there where your dad won’t be able to find me with a shotgun to pepper my hind end with buckshot.”
“My dad doesn’t own a gun, and he will absolutely not do anything of the sort.”
“You’re really lucky to have this family that loves you so much. Your parents seem awesome, and your grandparents were great. Hmm, prune juice. I’ll have to try that sometime. With the gin, of course. Your brother, though, he’s like Brussels sprouts.”
“What?”
“He acts like one. They’re awful. They taste like how a fart smells.”
“Wow, Leon. Duly noted.”
“I’m also kidding. He’s not that bad. He protects you, which is nice. Anyway, before you tell your dad anything, can you warn him about my chronic head pain? Because if he decides to whack me over the head with his cane, I’m not sure how much more damage I can sustain.” It’s supposed to be a joke, but Darby tears up, and I hate myself. She surges forward, wrapping her arms around me and holding me hard, her head tucked against my chest, clinging to me. Yup, I’m an eejit, alright.
“I’m sorry.” I stroke her back. “I was kidding.”
“It’s not funny. You are not to expire on me within the next sixty to seventy years. Do you understand that, Leon?”
I don’t have the heart to remind her that this agreement has an expiration date. She thinks everything’s changed. That I’ve gone soft, and we’ll find a way to stay married. I can’t tell her that with the damage I’ve already sustained, any future with me is dicey, and I’m not going to do that to her. I’m not going to deprive her of happiness, a healthy partner, kids and a family, and all the good things she deserves. I would never be that selfish.
Even if I want that more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.
I’m normally very good at self-denial, but I find myself holding her as tightly as she’s holding me. “I understand.”
14
DARBY
We make it through dinner, which is a compromise between some of the fish being baked and some of the fish being fried and a salad on the side. Then, the fun starts after the dishes are done. I don’t know who doesn’t love a good fire, especially since we have an excellent firepit and lots of wood stacked up at the side of the cabin. I’m a good fire maker, and I have a rip-roaring bonfire going in no time, which is just perfect to match the heat of the sticky night that hasn’t cooled off one single bit.