Boone nods, wiping his mouth with another napkin like he’s enjoying my growing panic.
He takes a sip of water, then pounds his chest theatrically. “Fuck, that went down the wrong pipe.”
I wait for him to finish coughing.
“Storm’s supposed to be bad. They can’t risk me being stuck here while you and Cain are in Connecticut if my pre-trial next week gets moved to virtual.”
“Is it really going to be that bad?”
He nods again, but this time with a smugness that suggests he’s a little too happy about the incoming blizzard and this twist in fate.
“So, Cain wants you to come back with me?” I clarify, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Yep,” he says with a smile that borders on victorious.
I sigh, knowing I don’t have a choice in the matter if that's what my brother wants.
“Fine. The train leaves in an hour. I’m going to shower, pack, and then we can take a ride share together, since I know how much youlovethose.” I toss over my shoulder as I walk away. His loud laugh follows me.
“I’ll be ready in thirty minutes. Can’t wait to see your home, Rosie!”
And something about that simple statement tells me this weekend and the impending storm is going to change everything.
???
Three hours later, our train is pulling into the Brookhaven station.
When we boarded, Boone had immediately apologized, saying he wouldn’t be great company for the ride. He was still exhausted from last night’s game and the post-game interviews—which I hadn’t stuck around to watch.
I’d had to head back to the office to wrap up a few loose ends on a high-stakes international case and felt like I’d done my time as his wife for the week.
The truth is that I’m getting tired of the acting and the way it’s been pulling me away from the legal work that I enjoy doing most.
“Mind if I nap?” he’d asked, looking genuinely wiped out.
“Be my guest,”I’d replied, grateful for the chance to work in peace and not worry about making small talk.
It worked out perfectly. Boone crashed hard, his head leaning back against the window, arms crossed over his broad chest like a fortress while his long legs stretched out.
Meanwhile, I’d used the quiet to catch up on emails, sort through my notes, and enjoy the rare tranquility of the train ride.
There’s something about leaving the constant noise and chaos of New York behind that always soothes me. The soft hum of the train, the blur of trees and fields rushing past—it’s like a deep breath for my spirit, a much-needed reset before stepping into the quiet simplicity of life in Brookhaven.
But I quickly realized I wasn’t going to get much work done on this trip. Tried being the key word. Because every time I opened my laptop, I’d find myself glancing at Boone, stealing peaks to watch him sleep like some kind of fool with a crush.
And every time, I’d get hit with the weight of just how insane this whole situation was. Marrying him, pretending thisarrangement isn’t slowly unraveling every part of my carefully controlled life, it’s all catching up to me.
That, and I kept wondering: where the hell will he be sleeping this weekend?
Of course he’ll sleep at Cain’s house. They’ve got a spare bedroom. There’s absolutely no reason for him to stay with me at my place. Cain wouldn’t allow it anyway. I can only imagine what he’d say, or worse, what he’d think if Boone stayed with me.
But a small part of me hoped he would anyway. I've gotten used to having him sleeping just down the hall in my apartment during the week when he’s not traveling. After not having roommates since college, I’ve appreciated the simple comfort of knowing someone else is nearby, even if we’re not talking.
As the train pulls into the station, I nudge Boone’s foot gently with the heel of my shoe.
“Hey, Boone. We’re here.”
He mumbles something in his sleep, stretching his arms over his head like a big kid waking up from nap time. I watch him unwind his long limbs, stretch his legs in those grey sweatpants that mold to his thick thighs. His grin is lazy, his eyes still heavy-lidded with sleep when he finally notices me.
