Stay(50)

“Oh my God.” Air bursts through my lips, and I drop my head back with a groan. “Lulabell!” Quickly I tap back. I hope you brushed your teeth. Chocolate will also give you cavities.

I can just hear him arguing with me. Instead, his reply heats my eyes. I miss you, Mom.

I quickly text back. I’ll be glad to see you in a few hours.

Stephen rouses, turning toward me and sliding a muscled arm around my waist. “Is it morning already?”

His voice is thick with sleep, and I can’t believe how happy I feel right now.

Scooting down in the bed, I pull his arm tighter around me. “Pretty much. I was just texting with Eli. Making sure he’s okay.”

“Mm… Is he?”

“Lou’s been letting him eat chocolate at bedtime.”

“Probably because of the antioxidants and calcium.” Stephen is still waking up, but I turn to glare at him. He doesn’t see me when he adds, “I hope she made him brush his teeth before he went to bed. Sleeping with sugar on your teeth erodes the enamel and causes cavities.”

Pressing my lips into a smile, I shake my head. He’s actually going to be a pretty great fake husband for the next… however long it takes.

“Stephen, I was thinking… How long are we planning to stay married?”

He rolls onto his back, scrubbing his fingers on his forehead. “A few months? I guess it depends on what Henry says. I’d expect at the most six months.”

His voice is so casual… Jesus take the wheel. I refuse to let my chest sink at his response. It’s why we did this. I married Stephen for his money, not for my heart. My heart is going to have to stay out of this.

Tossing the covers back, I swing my legs out of the bed and head for the shower. “Let’s take off in a half hour.”

“I’ll make coffee.”



* * *



“Due to rising temps, sock and bra money not allowed.” Stephen reads the sign in front of Miss Con-Cleaneality. “That’s not a deep thought.”

“It is if someone hands you a sweaty twenty.” The horrified face Stephen makes cracks me up as I pull open the glass door.

“Here come the newlyweds!” Lulabell sings loudly from behind the counter.

I cringe, wishing she wouldn’t do that, but my “husband” doesn’t seem to mind. He does a little bow, putting his hand on my lower back.

I imagine we’re an unusual pair, Stephen in his tan Armani suit and beige silk tie, and me in my usual cutoffs and a purple tank. It gets hot in here, and Lou and I wrangle heavy bags of dirty clothes all day. It’s not like we’re sitting around decorating cupcakes.

I’m about to duck under the counter when large hands catch me by the waist. My “husband” stops me, turning me around and pushing my back against the wood.

“I’ll miss you today.” He’s so much taller than me. I reach up to his shoulders, but my face is still only at the center of his chest.

“Didn’t you get enough of me this weekend?”

He leans down and kisses my lips. Not his usual take no prisoners kiss. This is a regular, saying goodbye to my wife at work type of kiss. It melts my knees.

“We discussed that, Emily. Have you forgotten?”

I have not forgotten his theory on long-lasting unions. He paid me a really nice, albeit crass compliment saying he’d probably never get tired of fucking me. Such a gentleman.

I manage to put that thought away and regain my cool. “Take care of my baby.”

“I always do.” He looks around. “Where is Eli?”

“Coming right up!” Lulabell’s tone is dreamy.

“Hey, Mom!” Eli comes cruising to the front, barely even giving me a hug.

He slaps Stephen a high-five and calls back a goodbye. Stephen gives me a little wink and the two of them stroll out into the street. I stand at the back counter watching them go feeling completely conflicted inside.

Stephen makes my knees weak, yet watching Eli walking away with him, without even a glance my way, feels like my heart has just been removed and is dragging along behind them on the concrete.

“It’s hard when they start getting independent.” Lou sidles up beside me, putting her arm around my waist. “Remember, that’s what you want him to do.”

Rocking my head side to side, I eventually make it to a nod. “I know. He’s just… he’s so…” I don’t want to say vulnerable. It makes him sound weak and Eli’s the strongest kid I know.

I try again. “He’s just so…” Ugh!

“He’s got to learn to spread his wings, Mamma Bear.”

“You’re right.” I know she’s right. If only I didn’t fear so much for his safety.

“And let me say, that sexy new husband of yours seems like the perfect role model for him. Good work.” She leans back, inspecting my face. “You’re absolutely glowing. I take it he’s still got it?”

“He’s got something.” A magic penis? No, it’s more than that.

“Any mention of your first time?”

“Actually, it did come up.”

Her mouth forms an O, and she scoots closer. “Tell me everything.”

Exhaling a sigh, I follow her to the back to help carry the clean clothes to the rack. “He was defensive at first then pissed I didn’t tell him… and ultimately apologetic.”