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“Cash, that’s not fair.” She flops down on her bed, her head landing on the pillow. “You shouldn’t have told me.”
I arch a brow. “Weren’t you just scolding me for not telling you sooner?”
“Ugh.” She sighs. “Fine, I’ll keep my mouth shut. So how does this work? Are you and Everly supposed to get divorced after the deal is done? I know you better than anyone, and it’s clear that you care about her.” Her tone changes to one of concern. “I might have been a kid at the time, but I could see how much you liked her in high school. Plus, you’ve worn the bracelet she made you for the better part of fourteen years. If that’s not a foundation for true love, then I don’t know what is.”
“It’s complicated, Pres.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “I want to be with Everly, but—”
“Uncomplicate it,” she states, cutting me off. “You can’t let the chance of being with the one person you’ve always wanted fall through your fingertips.”
I raise my brow. “Since when did you become the relationship expert?”
“Since I was the first sibling to be in a serious relationship.”
“Yes, you’re so much wiser than the rest of us,” I mutter sarcastically.
“Naturally,” she chirps. “Now if only you’d take my advice and tell Everly how you feel.”
“Okay, I think it’s time for you to go to bed now.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m still your favorite brother.”
“Only if you and Everly stay together.” She smirks. “I mean it when I say you two could be happy together. Fake marriage or not. I mean, Jack and I started out fake dating, and look how that turned out.” She gestures around their bedroom.
“Yes, shacking up in a penthouse in New York. Mom and Dad are so proud.” I wink.
My mom is thrilled that Jack and Presley are living together. She only wishes they’d get married and give her grandbabies. But for now, she’ll have to settle for them being madly in love.
“At least we came clean about our relationship early on. Imagine how she’ll react when you finally tell her.”
If I can convince Everly to give me a real chance and agree to stay with me long-term, something tells me my mom will be okay with it.
“We’ll have to wait and see. Listen, I have to go, but I’m glad you called,” I say.
“Yeah, me too. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t. Good night, Pres.”
“Good morning, Cash.” She grins before ending the call.
I tuck my phone in my pocket and head down to the spa to meet Everly.
She’s the person I want to grow old with, to create a lifetime of memories with. As far as I’m concerned, this thing between us should be permanent, but she has the final say. All I can do now is show her how much she means to me and that my future belongs to her.
The first step is figuring out how to tell my wife I don’t want a fake marriage anymore.
“Tell me again why we haven’t come here yet?” Everly says over her shoulder as I follow her down the hall toward the sauna. When we get to the entrance, we take off our robes and hang them on the designated hooks. She keeps the towel she took from the front desk tucked under her arm, and I open the door for her, motioning for her to go in first.
“Thank you,” she says.
As soon as we step into the sauna, I’m hit with a wave of intense, dry heat.
We’re the only ones here, and I follow Everly to the bench in the far corner. She’s wearing a bold red bikini that makes my mouth water. Her breasts spill out over the strapless top, and her high-cut bottoms hug her hips. I can’t take my eyes off her—she’s a total knockout.
And she belongs to me.
Everly settles into her seat and sets the towel down on the bench next to her. She leans back against the wall, her arms resting at her sides as her entire body visibly relaxes.