Page 76 of It Must Be Fate

When we married, it was the easiest decision in the world to take Nera’s last name. I didn’t give a fuck about tradition and I also didn’t want her or our future children to carry a name stained by abuse.

“Ah well,” I say with a shrug. “Pretty shit last name when you think about it.”

“Lots of baggage,” she agrees. “We’re well rid of it.”

“Speaking of baggage, is your husband still behaving?”

Tess laughs. “Don’t pretend you two don’t like each other these days. He told me just this week that you weren’t his least favorite brother-in-law. That’s high praise coming from him.”

My lips part in shock.

Why am I…offendedto hear this?

How dare he have someone he despises more than me?

“Devastating news. Clearly, I’ve been slacking. I need to step up my game.”

“Mhmm,” she hums, placating me.

“How is everything else?”

“Good. Theo is going to be ten in a couple months, can you believe it?”

I bring a palm to my chest, right over my heart. “Fuck, that just made me feel ancient.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Pretty soon, you’re going to have a teenager on your hands.”

“I fear we might already be there. He asked if he could get a tattoo this week.”

“Shit.”

“Thiago said yes.”

I laugh boisterously, imagining my sister categorically refusing the request while my heavily tattooed brother-in-law agreed, likely seeing it as a bonding opportunity with his son.

“So he’s getting a tattoo?”

“No, Tristan, my nine-year-old son is not getting a tattoo. But you can’t imagine the conversation Thiago and I had and what I had to do to get him to change his mind.”

“Gross. Nor do I want to hear about it, Tess.”

I can almost hear her roll her eyes at me. “He started getting tattoos when he was thirteen so he doesn’t understand what the big deal is. That’s as late as I could get him to agree to. I have three years to come up with convincing arguments before my little boy comes home inked up.”

Thiago getting tattooed so young is unimaginable to me, but we come from two very different worlds. I doubt Tess will allow her son to get inked before he’s an adult, but if anyone can get her to change her mind, it’s Thiago.

“Anyway, we had to promise Theo something out of this world as a present to get him to stop sulking, which is why I’mglad you called. Do you think your friend who plays for Arsenal would be open to a meet-and-greet with him?”

“Rhys? Yeah, of course. Let me know the details and I’ll help get it set up.”

She claps her hands happily on the other end of the phone. “Oh, that’s amazing. Thank you so much. Tell Rhys that Thiago says he’ll owe him a favor for his help. You know those can come in handy.”

***

Ten years after graduation

Chapter Nineteen

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