Page 54 of One Pucking Heart

We both knew this would end.

Thank you for five beautiful months together.

You’re a good guy, and I’m grateful to call you a friend.

See you at work.

Doc

“What in the actual fuck?” I yell, crumpling the note and tossing it across the room.

There’s so much about this goodbye letter that has me consumed with fury that I can hardly see straight. Doc? Who is she kidding with that? I’m not one of the guys. I haven’t referred to her as Doc since we decided to get married in the first place. Friend? I am so much more than that title allows for, and she knows it. She fucking knows it.

There’s a loud knock on my door, and I can tell by the fist hitting the wood that it’s Cade.

I open the door to find Cade and Iris.

“You have to tell us what’s going on. We’re worried sick about you!” Iris rushes in and throws her arms around me. In a feeble attempt, I give her a half hug, patting her back with one hand.

“Why not? Take a seat.” My words lack emotion, and my mouth is stuck in a frown.

“Listen. I’m really fucking tired and even more angry. So let me just get this all out before you ask questions. Okay? Do you agree to that?” I pin Iris with a stare because we all know she’s the one I’m referring to.

She clamps her lips shut and does the whole invisible key and lock thing.

For the first time since I concocted this plan, I talk to someone other than Elena about it. Pacing back and forth in front of the sofa where they sit, I tell my best friend and sister everything. I start at the very beginning and end with the dumbass note I just read. I explain how it started as a simple attraction and wanting to help a person out who needed someone to our wedding and subsequently falling in love with her. I give them all the details, and it’s freeing. I haven’t been able to keep a secret from these two since we were kids. They’ve been my support system and my sounding board my entire life. I gave up that part of myself when I agreed to keep this secret for Elena, and now that I’m finally coming clean, a weight lifts off my chest.

I stop walking and turn to face them. They both stare, wearing expressions somewhere between shock and pity. I wave my hand, giving permission to speak. “Go ahead.”

Iris stands from the sofa. She presses her fingers to her temples as if her brain can hardly contain the information. “I knew it. I knew something was off. You haven’t been yourself. You would never have flown off to Vegas to get married, especially without inviting us. None of it added up. I mean, I didn’t guess you were marrying her so she could inherit her father’s money, but I just knew something wasn’t right!” she says.

I dip my head back and sigh. “Yes, we’ve established that you knew it, but what do I do now? Cade?”

Cade shakes his head. “I’m sorry, man. I’m still processing. That was a lot of information to receive in two minutes.”

“The whole thing was crazy. As I listen to myself give you the details, I realize how insane it must all sound, and I guess it was. But that doesn’t change the fact that I truly fell in love with her. Our start wasn’t ideal or in any way normal, but I love her. I really do.” I jerk my fingers through my hair.

“Hey.” Iris steps toward me and takes my hands in hers. “Do you want to stay married to her?”

“Yeah,” I choke out. “I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”

She shrugs and gives me a smile. “Well, then you know what you have to do.”

“Get her back.”

“Absolutely.” She smiles. “This is like something straight out of a romance novel, Beck.”

“Yeah!” I pull my sister into a hug. I’ve wasted hours ridden with anxiety, fear, and anger when the solution is as simple as they come. “I’m going to get my wife back.”

Maybe our love story is like one that my sister likes to read in her romance novels, but at the same time, it’s completely different. The amount of love that I feel for Elena, no matter how well written, could never be contained to an entire novel. It’s too great.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

BECKETT

I feel like death as I step into the locker room to get ready for practice. Sleep has evaded me since our night in Seattle, and I’m a walking zombie at this point. I spent the entire day yesterday looking for Elena. After my chat with Iris and Cade, I was pumped to find my wife and convince her that our marriage was worth saving.

But my wife had other plans.

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