Page 39 of All Tied Down

ISLA: I was more like a hostage to the friend group in the beginning

ISLA: I’ll admit it’s pretty nice now

EMERSON: Our marriage is temporary and he was giving me the puppy-dog eyes when I was blasé about it

ISLA: You should probably remind him it’s temporary

ISLA: As long as you want it to be

EMERSON: It’s what I need it to be

ISLA: That’s not the same thing

EMERSON: Yes, it is

ISLA: I guess we’ll see in six months…

I gape at the phone because what does that even mean? There’s no way I could do the husband-and-kids thing like Isla has these last few years. I’m just about to tell her that when a message pops up.

But it’s not from my cousin.

It’s from my husband.

GARRETT: Come back to bed

EMERSON: I can’t sleep

GARRETT: I bet two orgasms I can change that

Debating for only a moment, I shut down my computer and turn off the light because I could sit here and stew over everything I cannot change in the moonlight.

Or I could let someone else take care of me for a while, and really, there’s no debate at all.

16

GARRETT

“So…” Theo starts in a way that means I probably won’t like what he’s about to say, “you’ve had a really chill few weeks being married,”—he pauses again for dramatic effect—“but that’s done.”

“Done?”

“Yes, done,” he says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “There’s no reason for you to be married to Emerson if the public isn’t seeing you together.”

“We went to the coffee shop in town just last week.”

He glares and I smile.

“Which is a great start, but you need to go there again and people need to see you. Hell, go every Tuesday and make it your thing.” The words are slow and measured like he’s talking to a child. “This whole ruse is pointless if you’re not using it to help fix the band’s image. Your image.”

I know what he’s saying and I get it, I really do, but the word ruse grates on me. My marriage to Emerson is temporary, sure, but the things I’m feeling for her are real, and I know she feels it too.

I just don’t know if it’s enough for her to give us a real shot.

“Are you even listening to me?” Theo grumbles and I nod.

“Definitely.”

“You’re so full of shit,” he grumbles. “Good news is that next Tuesday there’s a show at Gin & Porter. I’ve already cleared it with Des so Emerson is good to go. Colt has a series at home in a couple of weeks so you guys can go to that…” He trails off as he taps away on his phone. “There’s a gala in a couple of months but I’m trying to find one a little sooner.”