Page 23 of Consummation (The Josh & Kat Trilogy #3)

“Three in the far corner.” He bends over and sinks his shot. “How could you possibly propose marriage to a woman and not tell her you love her in the same breath?”

I roll my eyes. “Jonas, come on. I’d just found out Kat’s pregnant with my accidental spawn. I was a deer in headlights. Love was the furthest thing from my mind. I was just trying to do the right thing.”

Jonas grimaces. “Well, shit. No wonder Kat turned you down—rightfully so, you dumbshit.” He calls his next shot and sinks it with startling ease.

“Yeah, fuck it—it doesn’t matter. It all worked out for the best,” I say, feeling defensive.

“Kat really did me a big favor by saying no. I didn’t know it then, of course—at the time, it felt like Kat was kicking me in the teeth—but now I see she was the only one thinking clearly.

Holy shit, I can’t believe I just said that about Kat . ”

Jonas stands completely upright and rests his hands on the end of his pool cue, staring at me intensely. “Do you love her?” he asks.

“Yeah. I do. Without a doubt.”

“And she’s carrying your baby?”

I nod. “Yeah, we’ve already established that fact. I showed you the video, remember?”

“Then marry the girl, for fuck’s sake, Josh. It’s not that complicated. ”

I exhale in exasperation.

“Josh, Kat obviously turned you down because you were asking her out of obligation, not love. If you ask her again, but this time tell her you love her, she’ll say yes—I guarantee it.”

I wave Jonas off. “I’m not gonna ask Kat again.

Once was enough. The truth is I have no interest in getting married, not even to Kat.

If I wanna be with someone, I’ll be with them.

And if I wanna go, then I’ll go. And it’s the same for her.

I think it’s more satisfying to know the other person’s there because they want to be—not because they have to be based on some stupid piece of paper from the government. ”

Jonas shakes his head but he doesn’t speak. After a moment, he surveys the table again. “Eight-ball, rebounding off your two, and then into the far right corner.” He sinks his shot and wins the game.

“Goddammit, Jonas. I hate playing against you.”

Jonas puts his stick on the rack, his jaw muscles tight.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

“Dude, I can tell you’ve got something to say. Just say it.”

“Nope. I’ve got nothing to say. Congratulations on telling Kat you love her tonight. Big step. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to hear it.”

“Jonas,” I say, exhaling. “You don’t understand.

I’m gonna support my kid, okay? I’m gonna be the best father I can be.

That’s a given. And I’m hopefully gonna raise the kid with Kat because I love her and wanna be with her.

She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever been with and I can’t imagine finding anyone better, ever.

But I’m not the marrying kind of guy. I don’t need a piece of paper forcing me to be with Kat—I’m gonna be with her because I want to be. ”

There’s a long beat.

“Cool,” Jonas says, clearly brushing me off. “Congrats. Come on. The chef wanted to talk to you, remember?”

“Yeah, and you gotta get the fuck out before Kat gets here.” I look at my watch. “Kat’s supposed to be here in ten minutes—which means she’ll be here in thirty.”

We start walking toward the dining area.

I keep expecting Jonas to say something, but he doesn’t.

“What?” I finally say. “Just say it. ”

Jonas presses his lips together.

“Fuck, Jonas. I know what you’re thinking.”

“You do? What am I thinking?”

“You’re thinking I should propose to Kat again.

And, yeah, I know that’s the way we were raised—you get a girl pregnant, you marry her.

No other option. I know that’s what Dad would demand of me.

But I’m not beholden to Dad anymore. He’s gone—he made his choice—and I’m a grown-ass man.

I’ve decided I’m not gonna ask Kat to marry me and that’s final.

It’s my choice. I love her, I really do, and that’s enough.

I’ve decided I’m gonna love Kat with all my heart and be committed to her and help her raise our baby and we’ll just see what happens between her and me.

If she wants to go, she can. Same for me.

” I’m breathing heavily. My chest is tight. “ What ? Stop looking at me like that.”

“Mr. Faraday?” It’s the chef, accompanied by a guy in a tux. “How are you this evening, sir? This is Gregory. He’ll be serving you tonight.”

The four of us shake hands.

“Is this your guest for the evening?” The chef asks, motioning to Jonas.

Jonas and I look at each other and laugh.

“No. This is my brother. He’s just leaving. My guest will be arriving in a few minutes.”

“But I’d love to get your card,” Jonas says. “I’m thinking about hiring you guys as a surprise for my fiancée.”

I smile at the exuberant tone of Jonas’ voice when he says the word “fiancée.”

“When’s the wedding?” the chef asks.

“Exactly three weeks from today.”

“Oh. Congratulations.”

“World’s shortest engagement,” Jonas says, laughing. “And she’s not even pregnant.”

I glare at him. Low blow.

Jonas winks at me.

“So, Mr. Faraday,” the chef says, addressing me. “I just had a few questions...” He runs through his menu items, making sure I’m happy with each course as he plans to prepare it, and I give him approval on everything .

“Wonderful. We’ll start with a light appetizer and drink pairing when she arrives.”

“Oh, I should have told you: my girlfriend’s pregnant,” I say. “No alcohol this evening for either of us.”

“Oh. No problem. Thanks for letting me know. Congratulations.”

The chef and waiter head back into the kitchen.

“Well, have fun,” Jonas says, slapping my back. “I’d better get home. Sarah just sent me a text saying she misses me—always a good sign.” He snickers.

“Hang on a second,” I say. “We’re not done.” I motion to a loveseat (rented for me by Theresa), and we sit.

“What?” Jonas asks, obviously anxious to leave.

“I just... ” I exhale. “I need you to understand something.”

Jonas waits.

“I have no desire to get married, not even to Kat. From here on out, just don’t give me a hard time about it, okay? It is what it is. I know Kat’s pregnant and I know we were raised to—”

“I don’t think you should ask Kat to marry you,” Jonas says, interrupting me. He levels me with his startling blue eyes.

“You don’t?”

“No.”

“But you’re getting married.”

“Yeah, and that’s exactly why I don’t think you should marry Kat.”

“I’m confused.”

Jonas sighs. “Josh, I’m marrying Sarah in twenty-one days because I can’t wait a day longer than necessary to call her my wife.

I’m marrying Sarah because I can’t wait to declare my undying love for her in front of God and everyone we know.

I’m marrying Sarah because she’s the air I breathe, the embodiment of my hopes and dreams and my every drop of happiness.

Because I want Sarah to be mine, all mine, in every possible way ’til the end of time.

Because I never want another man to touch her, ever again—because even the thought of another man touching her makes me homicidal.

Because I want to be there for her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part—and I want to promise that to her in the most sacred way possible.

I’m marrying Sarah because I don’t want there to be any doubt in her mind how I feel about her, not even for a moment, for the rest of her life.

” He scowls at me. “ And not because I think I need a motherfucking piece of paper to tell me my love is real or official .”

I swallow hard, rendered completely speechless.

“So if you don’t feel exactly the same way about Kat,” Jonas continues, his eyes burning like hot coals, “if you don’t want to make that woman your wife for all the reasons I just described, then she didn’t just do you a favor by turning down your proposal—she did herself a favor, too.”