God knewIknew more about Zane’s sex life, pre-me, than I’d ever wanted toknow.
“Okay. So you canupdateDolly. And then we can tell the rest of the band and close friends together. Maybe get everyone together for dinnertonight?”
“Soundsgreat.”
He eyed me closely as I nibbled at my breakfast. He’d ordered me the same as his; egg white omelette loaded with vegetables, lean ham on the side, and mine had an added bowl offruit.
And two chocolate brownies that I was pretty sure I would’ve eaten first if he wasn’t here to see it. Because right now, I was so nervous I could’ve eaten a giant chocolate cake—myself. I was under no illusions that one of the brownies was for Zane, anyway; he didn’t care much for sweets, and he’d definitely ordered them forme.
Which was why I was married to the man, right? If this didn’t make him husband material, I didn’t know whatdid.
Almost made up for the whole manslutthing.
I smiled at himanxiously.
“Why are you so nervous, Maggs?” he asked, reading mymind.
“Because,” I said carefully. “I’m scared.” I sipped my sparkling water. I didn’t want to waste the champagne he’d paid for, but I really didn’t feel good about drinking in front of him these days. I’d have to give it to Katielater.
“Scared? Why?” he demanded. “Still?”
“Yes. Still. I mean, my fears weren’t gonna just magically evaporateovernight.”
As he stared at me, I realized that was exactly what he’d thought would happen. Or hoped wouldhappen.
“You know,” I added, trying to soften that in case it made him feel bad, “it’s like I’ve told you before. I don’t really think of myself as a fearful person. Heights, spiders, horror movies… whatever. I just don’t have any weird phobias about scarystuff—”
“How about clown dolls?” he asked, raising an eyebrow atme.
“Uh,no.”
“No? So… that time we were in the toy store picking out gifts for baby Nick, and that clown doll with the acid-trip eyes made you scream… you weren’tscared?”
“That doesn’t count. Itjumpedon me from theshelf.”
“Pretty sure itfell.”
“And I didn’tscream.”
“Oh yes, you did. Like NedFlanders.”
“Anyway,” I said. “Like I was saying. I don’t scare easily. But when it comes tothis… I don’t know, Zane… My bones feel kinda mushy and I see spots. Honestly… I’ve never been so scared of anything in mylife.”
“Spots?”
“Yeah. Like these dark spots kinda float around and I feel like I might pass out.” Zane stared at me, searching my face, like he might be able to see these dark spots if he tried hard enough. “But hey, at least I don’t pass out,right?”
“If you do,” he said, still eying me, “I’ll try to catch you before you crack your head open onsomething.”
“Thanks. That’s sweet.” I swallowed, picking at my food. I’d definitely been picking at it more than eatingit.
“Babe.” He reached to take my hand in his. He ran his thumb over my knuckles, exactly the way he’d smoothed it over my wedding ring when we’d stood together at the altar. “Tell me why you’re soscared.”
“Well…” I cleared my throat again and looked into his eyes. “Maybe because I’ve never cared this much about anything in mylife?”
His eyes scanned my face again, like he was trying to assess the truth in that. “Never?” And I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking about my job, how obsessive and serious I was aboutit.
But the fact was, a good chunk of the reason for that was… well…him.
