Chapter 39 #2
I hung up before he could say anything else, doubling back for a shirt and shoes before I headed down. The lobby was quiet at this hour, the lighting soft enough that it kind of gave the impression that the building itself was trying not to disturb anyone.
Too bad my brother didn’t catch a hint from it.
The lounge was tucked behind a discreet doorway that most people probably walked past without noticing, but that was the point of it. Members only, it was supposed to offer privacy and exclusivity, creating the illusion that whatever happened inside stayed there.
When I walked in, Will was sprawled in one of the leather chairs like he owned the entire building. He spotted me immediately, lifting his glass in greeting. “Finally. Took you long enough.”
“It’s my wedding night,” I said as I dropped into the seat across from him. “You’re lucky I came at all.”
“Yeah, yeah. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.” His head cocked as he swept his gaze across my face, lingering on my mussed hair before he smirked. “It looks like you’ve already enjoyed your wedding night, so I don’t feel too bad about interrupting.”
“It looks like I was about to go to sleep.”
He arched an eyebrow at me, then lifted his hands with his palms turned toward me. “Hey, man. If that’s how you want to play it, that’s fine by me. You don’t have to give me any details, but—”
“You have thirty minutes.”
“Wow. You’re so generous.”
A server appeared and I ordered a whiskey. She left and Will leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Emma.”
I groaned. “That’s what you’re doing here? Now?”
“Yes, now.” He gave me an exasperated look. “Last time we talked, you were convinced this whole thing was a disaster waiting to happen. You were going to meet with her to set the record straight and I never heard anything after that. If there’s a scandal heading our way, I need to know, Nate.”
“Don’t worry about it. The crisis has been averted.”
“Just like that?” He shook his head. “Nope, you’re going to have to do better.”
When my drink arrived, I stared into my glass for a long moment, watching the ice settle and trying to decide how much to tell him. “Things changed.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
He snorted. “Bullshit. Something happened and I need to know what.” Will’s eyes narrowed when I didn’t respond. “Oh my God. Something definitely happened.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“That’s how I know it’s a big deal.”
I took a slow sip, buying time I didn’t actually need, looking at him after I’d swallowed. “If I tell you, you cannot repeat it. Not to anyone. Ever.”
A grin instantly appeared on his lips. “Oh, this is going to be good.”
“I’m serious.”
“You’re always serious.” His grin widened. “Just tell me what’s going on already. I need to know if we have to loop Callum in from a PR point of view.”
“You don’t,” I said dryly. “He doesn’t need to know because there isn’t a scandal. There will be no PR nightmare.”
“There won’t?”
“Nope.”
“What about Emma?” he asked. “You’re just not with her anymore now that you’re married?”
“No, I…” I cleared my throat, then lowered my voice and leaned across the table. “I am with her. I’m married to her. Emma, it turns out, is Kate.”
There was a beat of silence. Then Will’s expression shifted into a mask of pure shock. “No.”
I shook my head at him. “Don’t.”
“She’s not.”
“Oh, but she is.”
His mouth fell open, and a second later, he started laughing. Not a polite chuckle or a quiet laugh. He literally doubled over, one hand clutching the table as the other grasped his drink like it might escape.
“You absolute—” He wheezed. “You idiot.”
“I told you not to.”
“You two were just pining for each other?” He made a vague, helpless gesture. “For months? Hell, for years, and you didn’t know?”
“Yes.”
“And all it took was one conversation?”
“Well, yes, but also, no.”
He laughed harder and I sighed. “I hate you.”
“This is the best story I’ve ever heard.”
“I will end you.”
“You married Kate and you’ve been in love with Emma for years, but—” He broke off, shaking with laughter. “Jesse is going to lose his mind.”
Fuck, the last thing I needed was for him to tell his twin, too. “You’re not telling Jesse.”
“Oh, I am absolutely telling—”
“You are not telling Jesse.” He grinned at me, but I didn’t return it. “I’m serious, Will. I’m swearing you to secrecy.”
Eventually, the laughter faded into the occasional aftershock and he straightened in his chair. “Okay, okay. Fine. For now.”
“For now,” I agreed.
He studied me for a second. “Seriously, just for now? You’re not going to put a lifetime gag on me about this?”
“It’s going to come out sooner or later. I know that, but right now, it’s just been a lot. I don’t want to put Kate through anything else and the whole thing with Emma is just so damn complicated. We don’t need that right now.”
A slightly more sober expression took hold of his features. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I didn’t think about it like that, but, I mean, are you happy?”
“Yes.”
Will smiled, but it wasn’t obnoxious this time. “Good, I’m glad.”
“I’m also leaving.” I signaled for the bill before he could order anything else.
When it came, I paid without looking at the total, glancing up at my brother when it was done. “You’re paying next time.” I stood, but I didn’t turn around right away. “If you tell anyone, I will deny everything and have you mentally evaluated.”
“Noted.”
“That includes Jesse, Will. I know he’s also my brother and your twin, but I’m serious, you can’t tell him about this.”
He held up a hand. “Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout.”
He shrugged. “Don’t sweat such a minor detail.”
“We’re at capacity,” I said. “Kate and me. We really do have enough on our plates right now.”
Will’s grin turned a little more understanding. “Yeah, I got that part. Seriously. Stop worrying and go enjoy being married.”
I nodded and left him there, still looking much too pleased with himself. By the time I got back upstairs, Kate hadn’t moved.
I slipped back into bed beside her, and this time, when she curled into me, it felt a lot less fragile and temporary. It felt real. Permanent.
Like we were finally starting to settle into an us. The world might never understand how we’d started, or even how we’d wound up agreeing to an arranged marriage without knowing the truth about each other, but right now, that didn’t matter.
For now, this right here, was more than enough.