"We've barely walked in the door." Maya released my hand to toss her hands wide. "Can we put a pin in this and leave Sloan's testicles right where they are?"
She gestured to my aforementioned testicles, which wasn't entirely necessary. Now didn't seem like the time to bring that up, though.
"Let's listen to my wife," I said instead.
"Your wife." Elliott shook his head. "Because you married her…" Elliott confirmed this again.
"The answer is still, yes," I said.
"You married her." The guy needed to stop saying the same thing over and over.
On the outside, Elliott relatively kept his cool. He wasn't yelling, but what concerned me was how the vein in his neck pulsed. "How did I not see this coming? I should've taken you to Ohio or North Dakota or someplace you couldn't dig yourself a new hole."
"Elliott." I held up my palms in surrender. "Nobody saw this coming."
"The man's right." Finn lounged on the sofa like this wasn't a big deal at all. Everything was totally fine, and everyone needed to take a fistful of chill pills and eat a bag of Cheetos Puffs. "Mr. Denver's Most Eligible Bachelor is no longer a bachelor. The man who basically took out ads announcing the joys of single life is no longer single."
Emily glared at Finn. "What do you know about it?"
Now it was Finn's turn to throw his hands up in surrender. "Clearly, I know nothing."
"We got married! We're staying married. He didn't dump me in Lake Mead near Hoover Dam,” Maya said. All the post-game marital interview questions clearly annoyed her.
"We worked it all out this morning," I added, looking directly at my new wife as I spoke.
"We communicated the hell out of the situation, and we both understand where things stand. All expectations are laid out, and this marriage will be stronger than any other because we know why we're here and exactly what the other wants out of it," Maya added, picking right up where I left off, her gaze totally locked with mine.
"Nobody's heart is involved," I said.
"It's just two people realizing that this mistake can be a mutually beneficial opportunity," she continued.
"Not only is she good for my reputation, she's not into games and bullshit," I added.
"And he's not only the reason my socials are blowing up; he also appreciates my efficiency," Maya continued.
"Elliott, you need to take a big, deep breath before you burst a blood vessel," Angela said, breaking the moment between my new wife and me.
Elliott gave her a look that had me seriously questioning if I'd missed something while I was getting drunk and getting married. Elliott, who never took direction from anyone but himself, stared right at Angela and took that deep breath she suggested.
Straight up, he was deep breathing with her, and the neck pulse thing chilled the fuck out.
New plan: I should ensure Angela was at all future negotiation meetings with Agent Elliott.
"Hey, Sloan, the guys are planning a you-got-drafted-for-marriage tailgate party for you and Maya. They're wondering if you want ribs or burgers?" Finn looked up from the screen of his cell phone.
"Are you on the team group chat?" I asked.
He nodded and asked Maya this time, "Ribs or burgers?"
"Whatever," she said. "I'm not picky. Sloan can decide."
"Uh…" I wasn't sure what I wanted. I mean, I'd made some big decisions that morning. "I think I might be out of decisions today. I don't know what to pick."
"No parties," Elliott announced. "There's a private jet meeting us on the tarmac in two hours. Finn. Sloan. You'll both pack your bags, and the plane will take you back to Denver. Sloan, you're going to huddle up in your house until I give you the all-clear to leave. You go nowhere without me. In the meantime, I'll run interference with the Stallions and social media."
Angela's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and held the phone out to Maya. "It's one of your sisters."
"Dammit." Maya pursed her lips and shook her head. "Do not answer that."
