Page 71 of Cherished Lands

"Stay with me," I whispered into her hair, not sure if I meant right now or forever.

She pressed a kiss over my heartbeat. "Where else would I go?"

The answer felt like a promise.

Maybe it was.

"How's married life?"Andy asked.

Once a month, my best friend and I ventured out to Sable Point Spa & Resort for a "fancy" meal and some live music. In the past, he'd head home after, and I'd find a nice tourist to take to bed.

Now, things were different.

Tessa and I had been married nearly a month, and while some things were easy—the sex—others were hard as fuck—the feelings. But I couldn't tell Andy that. As far as he and everyone except my parents and Hank knew, this marriage was as real as it gets.

"It's good, I think. I don't know. If you'd told me two months ago I'd be happily married to Tessa Belmonte, I'd have shipped you off to the looney bin."

Andy laughed. "Yeah, I mean, I saw it. The chemistry's always been there with you two, but I didn't think you'd just up and marry her."

"Didn't wanna wait. Gotta keep up with you and Sar if we want our kids to grow up together."

Kids? With Tessa? What the fuck?I wasn't even sure Tessa wanted kids. We'd never discussed it. As I kept having to remind myself, this whole marriage was supposed to be a temporary sham.

I should just ask. Would that be weird?

Seized by reckless daring—and probably alcohol—I pulled out my phone while Andy ordered us another round.

ELLIOT

Do you want kids?

I stared at the screen, waiting for the bouncing dots to appear. When they finally did, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

TESSA

I'm not sure. Do you?

ELLIOT

Yes. A couple, at least.

TESSA

At least? You trying to start a baseball team, PB?

ELLIOT

PB?

TESSA

Paul Bunyan, obvi.

I snickered.

"What?" Andy asked.

"Just Tessa being Tessa."