Eli never wanted to break a nose so badly in his life.
“Thank you.” Marlee followed Eli and her suitcase inside. She set Lothario’s purse on the floor to let him roam. He went straight for Eli’s shoes. Because of course, he did. “Thank you for letting us stay with you.”
Her eyes were puffy as shit from crying, but her words were strong. She wasn’t looking for his strength, she just needed to know someone had her back. So he focused on what he could do—lay it all out there.
“Well, first of all, we’re in this bind together, so it makes sense we work through it as a team. And second, you’re my friend and you’re practically my family, so of course, you can stay. And third, my mother will disown me if I get mistaked to someone and then don’t let them crash at my place when their ex utterly screws them over.”
Marlee stepped into the living room. Never had anyone ever looked more out of place than socialite Marlee in his living space. Not that his apartment wasn’t kept up. Sadie had helped him pick out his furniture, so it all matched. His mother insisted on deep cleaning the place twice a month—even though he offered to hire someone. This just ticked her off, so he quit mentioning it. At least her attention made it so the place didn’t reek of bachelorhood. But even if the apartment wasn’t a dump, Marlee was a puzzle piece that didn’t fit. No, she looked like she belonged at Tiffany’s. Not waiting for clean sheets and month-old frozen enchiladas.
“It isn’t just Scotty. Mom and Dad think you’re after my trust fund. I know that’s not true.” She rubbed at her forehead with the heel of her palm. “But I know them. I know what they’re thinking. They think I’ll be back tomorrow with my tail tucked between my legs like Lothario after his accident. I refuse. If I have to sell my clothes and buy a plane ticket to couch surf at Sadie’s, then that’s what I’ll do. I’m going to get a job—and not one that they control. And then I’m going to start my new self-sufficient life.”
Preach it. That’s how he lived, and it was the only way to go.
“Speaking of Sadie, I texted her. She’ll hurry through the paperwork.” He lifted Marlee’s suitcase, carrying it to his bedroom. “Should have something to sign in the next day or so.”
“Then the ninety-day purgatory begins.” Her footsteps were soft behind him. “You know the media is going to figure out that you’re the one I married.”
He knew. He’d been bracing for it. He nodded.
“I’m sorry, Eli,” she whispered.
“Wasn’t just you who stood in front of Liberace and said ‘I do.’” He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe it’ll bring in new clients? Who knows.”
She nodded. Hopefully, something good would come of this for one of them.
“Aw, when did you take this?” she asked.
He paused. Turned.
She was looking at the family picture his mom had hung in the hallway. Last Thanksgiving when everyone was together, she’d had a professional photographer come and take the photo. His mom, dad, Eli, and his four sisters. The girls all moved away after college; he’d been the only one who stayed put. They all got degrees and worked in offices all over the country. “Last year. Everyone came home for Thanksgiving.”
“I haven’t seen Nicole in forever. Sadie said she doesn’t make it back much.” Marlee stepped closer to him.
“She’s busy changing the world.” And he was proud of her. Shehadmade it to Europe. Studied foreign relations and now worked in some government office she couldn’t talk about.
“I figured you can set up shop in my bedroom.” He tilted his head toward the room.
Marlee raised her eyebrows.
That sounded wrong. “I mean, I’m moving out so you can have the real bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa. It pulls out.” Unlike him. He gulped and kept his eyes forward, unwilling to risk her reaction to his screwup. They’d already agreed they weren’t having a repeat of their wedding night. And he was definitely not having sex with the woman he was married to—a woman who would be staying with him for the foreseeable future.
That thought made him start to sweat.
He liked his private space. Liked being able to do what he wanted, whenever he wanted.
His feet slowed the tiniest bit as they moved to his bedroom. Marlee’s bedroom. He hadn’t even moved his stuff back in since Sadie had slept there.
“I can get a dog bed for Lothario if you don’t like him sleeping on the bed. And help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”
Marlee still hadn’t spoken. She was behind him though. The whisperedswishof her feet on his carpet as she moved behind him was a giveaway.
He turned and caught her staring.
“Are you always this nervous when you have a girl sleep over?” She solidly squared him up.
“I don’t have sleepovers.” Not the kind she meant.
Yes, he’d had hookups. But he either went to their place or he fed them well and they went on their way afterward. No, he didn’t have sleepovers.
