Chapter 21 Grey #2
“Exactly. If the desire should arise, that’s what rule number three is for. Now, five. Let’s see, if we do find ourselves in a fight, we can only stick to one topic at a time. No hitting below the belt with other topics.”
“I should hope not. Number six?”
“Officially, that one is no shirt, no shoes, so we—”
Declan would rail me for the flirty smile that I can’t hold back. “No funny business. Not even with my wife?”
Her cheeks go a shade darker. “Those are the rules. Seven, this club will go on for as long as necessary. Until we mutually agree to number three.”
If we mutually agree to number three.
“The last one, if it’s your first Marriage of Convenience, you have to be married.”
I squint into the past, straining to remember the original rule from the movie and the template she’s using for the rules. “Does that mean honoring our vows?”
“Yes, and embracing marriage through communication.”
“Respect.”
“Trust.”
As we hammer out the terms of the Marriage of Convenience Club, something unspoken passes between us, even though Everly emphasized the importance of communication. It’s like the agreement we made in the courthouse received its final stamp of approval and we’re moving forward with this thing.
“Communication,” I repeat, emphasizing it because it’s not my strong suit.
“Speaking of, what did you say about a hot wife?” she says in disbelief. “I’ve been called many things, but not hot.”
I stifle a smirk. “Even the other guys on the team think so.”
She squawks a laugh. “As you can imagine, I’m not in the mood to be teased.”
The ache in Everly’s tone suggests she’s not being falsely modest or fishing for flattery. She really doesn’t see what’s so obvious.
“Too bad, because it’s true.” And she could be mine. All mine. But can I risk getting close to her?
“You still owe me a question from when I admitted that I drew you in the Cookie Dough Diary.”
“The what diary? Wait. That doesn’t count as my question,” I say as if this is a genie wish situation.
“Consider an explanation of my diary a freebie because it’s fun.” She tells a story from her college years and how each day she writes down her thankful three.
“That’s cool. Now, you tell me what you did wrong.”
She presses her lips together as though giving one more effort to keep the answer to herself. An exhale escapes and her sweet sunshine scent tickles my nose.
“You’re going to get bonus insight because I can’t answer this question without also telling you about my father,” she says.
“Ooh. My lucky day. Two for one,” I joke, rubbing my hands together.
“Have you ever heard of Lefevre Metal Holdings?”
I scan my mind. “Actually, I think they’re a sponsor for a football arena in Georgia.”
“Yup. They, meaning my father, owns the second biggest metal manufacturer in the world. Up until he inherited the corporation from my grandfather, it was the first, built by my great-grandfather. In fact, I’m guessing this airplane is made of Lefevre metal.”
“So your maiden name was Lefevre?” I ask, piecing it together.
“Yup. Glad I didn’t become Mrs. Todd Devlin. But yes, my maiden name was Lefevre.”
“But you took my last name. You’re Everly Adams?”
“Not out of lack of respect for my grandfather and great-grandfather, but my father is...how do I put this? An incredibly difficult person.”
“How so?”
“Cold. Distant. Controlling. He arranged the marriage with Todd because his connections in the industry would put him back at number one in the world. I agreed to it to appease him. Because I thought it might work out and we could have a happy family.” She stares at her hands. “Turns out Todd didn’t want one.”
“No kids?”
Still not looking up at me, she shakes her head.
There is nepotism and shady dealings in football, but Everly’s own father treating her like a commodity to be traded for financial gain is horrendous.
“He’s so ruthless, people call him the Ice King and he wears it like a badge of honor.”
“But I don’t understand. How’d you do anything wrong?”
“I don’t have much family. It was silly, but I was willing to do whatever I could to please him, so I went along with his proposal to marry Todd. I didn’t want to disappoint him.”
“What would’ve happened if you had?”
“I’m a peacekeeper and never dared to upset the equilibrium because I’ve seen what happens when people do.
He routinely ruined careers and lives.” Everly tips her head back with a harrumph.
“The ironic thing is, I went along with the engagement and ended up exactly where I’d be had I just said no, to begin with. ”
I absentmindedly run my thumb across the ring on her finger. “Are you sure about that?”
“Maybe not exactly, but he’s practically disowned me. I’ve made bad decisions. That’s what I did wrong.”
“Everly, he didn’t own you to begin with. But don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“Says the guy who’s been beating himself up about something.”
I grunt.
We descend into silence. All this talk about fathers reminds me that I am one and my son is about to become a much bigger part of my life.
Which means I have to find a way to tell Everly, and fast.