“How do you have time to call us on your honeymoon? Don’t you know what a honeymoon is for, lil bro?” Zach doesn’t even share pleasantries, and listening to his familiar nonsense does calm me.
I hear Zander’s snicker before he asks, “How are you guys doing?”
“Good. I wanted to t-tell you that we’re planning to s-stay a bit longer.”
“But you’ll be home for Christmas?” Zander asks. The rush in his voice tells me that Rose has already started planning a family Christmas party.
I quickly think back to dates and then hum a yes. “D-definitely by th-then.”
“Good.”
We spend a few more minutes talking about work. Somewhere in the middle, Vienna enters the room and waves at me. My plunging heart rate calms a little at the smile on her face.
Ivy must have made some of her silly jokes. I should buy a few more of those Mozart chocolate balls that she demanded in her frequent texts checking in on Vienna’s heath and if I’m taking good care of her best friend.
Vienna opens and closes her nightstand drawer, and to give her some privacy, I walk out to the balcony. The call with Zander and Zach lasts another few minutes, and they assure me everything is okay at work and I shouldn’t worry about the office right now. Zach even reminds me that all I should be thinking about is making love to my wife.
Finally, the call ends, and when I turn around, away from the railing overlooking the city, I find Vienna with a glass in hand.
Fuck! She has a transfusion tomorrow.
My head jerks to the bottle, which looks like white wine, but with a knowing smile, she turns it around. I read the green label with ginger ale written in gold.
“I’m not that stupid, Zane.” Vienna grins and my own heart eases watching her smile.
Somehow, no matter what happens during the days, our evenings and nights are peaceful.
As if nature knows this is our time.
We bond, we talk, we share.
Sometimes good. Sometimes bad.
It feels like the cover of night gives us the permission to say all those things we usually keep buried.
I look at the dark sky and wonder what magic will happen tonight that’ll make me fall more in love with my wife.
“Zane, can you get my phone? I think I left it inside.” Vienna looks at me above her glass.
I nod. Her lips curl a little upward as if she’s stifling a smile.
I give her another confused look, wondering what she’s thinking before walking inside.
I search for her phone on her nightstand and the breakfast table and even the bathroom. But I finally find it on my nightstand.
I pick it up from where it’s resting on a folded sheet of paper. My hands fucking shake when I pick up her bucket-slash-sex list.
1. Marry the most handsome man in the world. ??
2. Have mind-blowing sex with my husband on my wedding night. ??
3. Go on a honeymoon in a private jet to the city of my dreams. ??
4. Join the Mile High Club. (Waiting for our next plane ride.)
5. Go on a date to my favorite café and end the day with orgasms—too many to count!
6. Have sex under the stars. (Tonight is a perfect night for it.)