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She let out a nervous titter. It wasn’t like she thought Hector would get mad—henevergot mad unless he could make itfun. But she still felt weirdly guilty. Like he should get mad at her. Even though he’d given his blessing a hundred times to sleep around before the wedding. Something about sleeping in Oliver’s arms, his hands soothing the sore muscles in her feet, felt more illicit than the sex. Like she was betraying Hector somehow.

“So,” she said before he could say anything in response. “How wasyourweek?”

He made a noncommittal noise. “Well, I’m running out of things to do at this resort.”

“Maybe work? Which is what they brought you there to do?” For some reason, it was harder than usual to keep her voice playful. Her default voice for most things was fun, why was this suddenly difficult?

“Ha, ha. Anyway, I booked a helicopter ride. Got some beautiful photos of the islands.”

Glass clinked on his end of the line. Luna thought of suntans and mai tais. They didn’t fill her with longing like they did weeks ago. Instead, they made her think of Grandmother Musgrove’s hot chocolate, full of spices and a crumbled-up flake.

“Anywho,” he continued. “How wasyourweek?”

“Great,” she said automatically, toying with the comforter tucked around her. “I think this town really has something, Hec. Like, it’s got the Itfactor. Claw Haven: for the monster who needs some peace and quiet, sure, but also the perfect escape for the busy traveler! The monsters only make it more cozy. Like when you put foil behind a jewel to make it shine better. Have you ever seen a minotaur in a winter scarf? It’sadorable.”

“It sounds adorable,” he said distractedly.

“And it’ll be even more adorable when they start implementing my marketing strategies,” she continued. “I’ve been doing some consulting on the side—don’t tell Dad.”

“Wait,” he said. “For the inn? I thought you were just replacing their sign.”

“I am!” Luna replied. “Butyou know how small towns are. You’re out and about, you get to talking, someone asks for advice, and suddenly everybody wants a piece of you. I’m averyhot commodity here.”

“Do I know how small towns are?” Hector repeated, incredulous. “Doyouknow how small towns are? You’ve been there a month!”

“It’s been a very full month,” she said defensively. She reached down and pulled her duvet tight around her, determinedly not imagining a certain pair of arms around her instead. In another month, this would all be a distant memory. She’d be back to her old life, in her old house, with her brand-new husband. Back to charity galas and parties and to secretly emailing the marketing team and falling into whatever fun Hector had planned every weekend. A nonstop party. That was how Hector proposed:let’s keep this party going, he’d said with a grin and a giant, glittering diamond ring that was currently sitting at the bottom of Luna’s handbag. For safekeeping, of course.

“Whatever,” he said dismissively. “Do they tip well? They’d better. The way you made it sound, that inn is another bad year away from going under. Not evenmentioningClaw Haven.”

Luna bit her lip. She hadn’t told him she was doing it for free. “You know how I said I was really bored?”

He was silent. Then he let out a laugh so loud Luna had to hold the phone away from her ear.

“You’re doing it for nothing? Oh,Lu.”

“Don’tLume,” she said. “I’msobored, Hector! Bythis point, I would’ve paidthemto give me the reins. There’s nothing to do here when you’re chained to a werewolf who passes out if you want to go on a walk without him!”

“I mean,” he said. “Notnothing.”

“Hush,” she told him, neck prickling with heat where Oliver had kissed her this morning.

He snickered. “How is that going, by the way? Should I be worried?”

“No,” she said, too fast.

There was a pause.

“Uh,” Hector said. He laughed, uncharacteristic nerves trickling into his tone. “Ooookay.”

She grimaced, burying her face in the duvet. Could shesoundany more suspicious?

“It just feels weird,” she said. “Like, our arrangement was only ever meant for one-time flings. Right? If you hit it off with someone at a party, or—or you wanted to hook up with a waiter in a hotel room. One night only. This is…”

Hector’s voice went soft in a way she rarely heard it. The last time was after his aunt had a stroke and he was talking to her on the phone, trying to decipher her words as she slurred with the one working half of her mouth.

“Lu,” he said. “Are you falling for your accidental husband?”

Luna scoffed as loud as she possibly could.