Page 37 of Holding Penalty

Let’s not make a habit of calling me that

ME

We’ll have to have another meeting to decide on pet names

NASH

Not necessary

ME

You can call me snookums if you want

NASH

I don’t

Why am I smiling so much right now? I should be too tired.

ME

Sweet pea works too

NASH

Clearly I made a mistake wishing my wife a good night

A warm, comfortable feeling spills through me. Nash calling me his wife should make me scoff, considering we’re trampling on the sanctity of marriage with how fake and self-interested this arrangement is. It shouldn’t make me feel fuzzy.

ME

Does that mean I shouldn’t expect it to happen again?

NASH

Nah, I’ll make a habit of it. Even if my wife is annoying, she’s still my wife

That night, I fall asleep with a silly grin on my face, and I sleep better than I have in a long time.

17

NASH

Is it weird that all day long I’ve looked forward to texting my wife goodnight?

It’s not weird, right? To do that even though this is totally fake? Like, it would be weirder if we had zero contact on a day-to-day basis despite being legally married, wouldn’t it?

It’ll help us to stay in touch, anyway. Make it easier for us to be in some rhythm together whenever we might have to fake it in front of other people.

When I step into the locker room to get changed for practice, every conversation halts, and every pair of eyes points at me.

After a couple moments with my brow furrowed, standing here wondering who’s going to say something to let me know why they’re all gawking at me, it’s Hayden who breaks the silence.

Of course it’s Hayden who breaks the silence.

“Nash, I’m just going to come right out and say it. I’m offended.”

I suppress a groan. “Hayden, what the hell are you talking about?”