“Come here, Prince,” Selena says, beckoning me over to one of the cabanas.
She threads her fingers through my hair and smiles at me. “You look miserable.”
“I know.” I look at her carefully. “How are you feeling?”
She tries to lie. “I’m fine. Happy my sister is here.”
She’s pale, and her hands are clammy. She hasn’t eaten much—again.
“I need you to eat something. Is a wagyu burger going to be too much?” I stroke her hair away from her face.
“There’s salad and corn. Don’s grilled corn is actually pretty good.” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “All he can really do is grill.” Her smile is adorable.
“I kind of figured.” I bring her in and kiss her passionately.
“Oh, sorry,” I hear her sister say.
I look over and see Celeste with an armful of water wings, goggles, and flippers.
“Hey, Cel,” Selena says sweetly.
“Hey, Sel.”
“Is that a thing?” I laugh.
“Since we were little,” Selena tells me.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Celeste backpedals, setting her stuff on a lounge chair.
“You can stay,” I say. “We’re just getting ready for swim night.”
“I should make sure the boys aren’t setting your house on fire. There’s a lot they can ruin here.” She rolls her eyes, but I don’t think she means to be rude.
“Sure,” I say.
Selena’s face falls, and she wraps her arms around her stomach like a shield.
“They’re good kids,” she murmurs as Celeste walks away.
“They’reloudkids,” I reply, thinking I’m teasing.
She sighs. “They live on a farm and are sort of free-range. This is a family. It’s messy and wild and chaotic. And I know it’s not your thing, but...”
I turn her face to mine. “Selena, I’m not upset. I knew this was what it would be like. Imagine if three little boys weren’t rowdy. I’d wonder what was wrong with them.”
“I’m trying,” I say more softly. “I watch your sister and her husband and those kids, and I wonder—”
“Are you afraid that’s what we’re going to be like?” Selena interrupts. “I’ll be gone by then, Griffin. I and little Chlamydia won’t be here when he or she is old enough to be rowdy.”
“No, that’s not what I’m afraid of. I wonder if this is what youwant?” I ask in a low voice. “A real marriage. A real family. Because this is a deal with a man who doesn’t know how to do or be any of the things Don is.”
That is an admission I didn’t think I’d make. Why would I want to be like an oafish man built like a bulldozer? But he’s the center of his family, and he fucking grills.
I don’t even microwave.
Selena looks at me with a pained expression. “Don loves Celeste. He makes her laugh even when there’s jelly on the ceiling. Someday I want someone to see me like that. I feel like a complication you’re obligated to protect. A perfect piece of strategy. I’m a woman who makes you horny... and I do believeyou like me. But I know you don’t love me. How could you? We don’t know one another.”
She turns away suddenly, clutching her stomach, and races for the bathroom. I follow, holding her hair and rubbing her back while she retches. When she’s done, I help her clean up as I hear the gleeful squeals of little boys outside.
