One hundred. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight…
* * *
My eyes open when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I grab it fast before the sound wakes Vienna.
Rose: Hi, Zane. I hope you both are enjoying your honeymoon. Zander and I are going Christmas gift shopping. Can you give me some ideas on what Vienna would like? I want to make her first holidays with us memorable. Take care.
I look at my wife, still unconscious, lying on the hospital bed under a white comforter and wearing a pale blue gown. She’s resting on her good side while the exposed bandage on her head mocks me. The white gauze and her shaven head remind me of her panic the day before our wedding. We’ve fucking seen so much together in such a short time.
* * *
Vienna is finally discharged from the hospital, and we’re driving back to the hotel. Since she opened her eyes, she’s been quiet. Now, in the back of the taxi, I miss her laugh, giggles, and sexy comebacks more than ever.
“Vienna—”
“I’d like to go back home, Zane.” The emptiness in her eyes makes me nervous.
Does she mean our home or her home?
“To the cabin, right?” I ask softly and her eyes widen.
I mentally kick myself for asking that question, but thankfully she nods. “I miss our fur babies.”
My chest inflates with a breath of fresh air at the sight of her small smile. I take my phone out and show her the photograph Zach sent me last night.
My nephews are sleeping on the floor beside the fireplace in Zander’s living room with Tassels, Mystery, and Mr. Stanley.
“Don’t worry. All the boys in our family are having fun.”
“They all look so cute.” Her lips curl up, and my nervousness slowly calms.
30
VIENNA
“Are you sure you want to tell my family?” Zane asks as we walk toward Zander’s house.
We reached Cherrywood early morning yesterday and are now on our way for a Friday night dinner and to collect Mystery and Tassels.
He’s asked me this question more than five times since I told him I don’t want to lie to his family about the bandage.
But I just want to stop this struggle of truth and lie in my broken head. The fine boundary separating them has extensively blurred over these past weeks.
Zane and I have shared so much in our short time together. We’ve opened our hearts, sharing much more than physical intimacy.
And above everything, I’ve fallen madly, irrevocably, and unapologetically for my fake husband.
I adjust my beanie, which I bought from the Vienna airport and that has my name sparkling in gold over the black woolen fabric, when Zane rings the doorbell. Zander greets us at the doorstep and leads us inside, where the whole gang is waiting. Rose has already started putting on Christmas ornaments, and I can’t wait to see how this beautiful place will turn out when the decorating is complete.
I perch on the couch next to Kristy, with Chloe on her lap. Immediately, Chloe makes a grab for me, and I can’t help but pull the sweet kid into my arms.
Chloe has inherited her father’s golden hair but her mother’s feisty spirit. Soon, her curious fingers tug on my beanie. I underestimate the strength in her tiny arms, and before I can adjust it, the hat lands over Chloe’s head.
Her bubbling giggles faint the noise of Kristy’s gasp, but only a little.
“Vi! What happened?”
Suddenly all the drink glasses are back on the coffee table, and everyone’s looking at me with concern. My worried gaze shoots to Zane, who’s standing by the bar. He stills with a terror-stricken expression as he looks at me.