Page 62 of Merlot Marriage

He leans over to kiss the top of my head. “Just the highlights.”

I scan the screen. Should I start with the individual texts from my family or the group chat that’s still going? I tap Maggie’s, since she’s the instigator of all of this, and start reading out loud.

“Ophie, why did Kel just ask me how long you and Philip have been sleeping together? And why is this news to me?” Further down the page, another message catches my eye. “‘Have you been together this whole time and none of us noticed?’ Oh, here’s another good one. ‘Is it the accent? It’s the accent, isn’t it? It makes him sound so proper, even when he’s talking complete bullshit.’”

Philip laughs at that one. “Does it?”

“It does.” I poke his side. “Americans are suckers for an English accent, and yours is particularly nice to listen to.”

Her next text has heat running up my cheeks, but I don’t share it with Philip.

Mags:Does he talk dirty to you in that accent? I bet that is so hot. I don’t actually want an answer to that one because I don’t want to think of my future brother-in-law having sex with my sister, but still. It’s hot, isn’t it?

Mags:OMG, is that where you’ve been going when Kel and I are at the house? To have sex with him?

Mags:OMG, is that WHY you’ve been going??????? Do I make loud sex noises?!?!?!?

Mags:Well, Kel is now rolling on the floor laughing (literally) because he said that’s how he put two and two together. Nate said we’re both loud?!?! I am MORTIFIED!

Mags:Do you think Daisy is loud too? Is it a Moore sister thing? What a weird thing for us all to have in common.I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep a straight face the next time I see Daisy. The visual in my head…make it stop!

Mags:This is all your fault. I have to go bleach my brain now.

“I wonder if being loud during sex is a matter of nature vs. nurture?” Philip laughs, his chin digging into my shoulder as he reads Maggie’s messages. “Or maybe it’s just because all three of you jabber like a bunch of baboons.”

“Hmph. You talk way more than I do. And that is the last time we are ever going to talk about how much noise my sisters and I make during sex.” I lock my screen and shove my phone underneath the throw pillows beside me. “It’s probably better than what Daisy and my mom are going to say.”

I lean my head against Philip’s chest, taking a moment to focus on the sound of his heart beating beneath my ear. It’s slow and steady. Dependable. Philip may love a good joke and never take anything seriously, but the one thing he has always been is dependable.

“What doesyourfamily think?” Anything to delay the moment of judgment by a few more minutes. “Did you already tell them?”

Philip hands me his phone, the screen unlocked, to show me the WhatsApp conversation between his family.

Nicola:Does this mean Mum and I are going to be slightly less outnumbered? Can’t wait to welcome her officially.

Jono:Poor girl. Does she know what she’s got herself into?

Mum:When can we meet her in person? Does this mean you’re going to come visit soon?

Dad:Can’t say I’m surprised, but congratulations, son. Hopefully she’s a bit more sensible than you.

“Is it bad that I’m annoyed at your dad’s attitude? I’m not sure what’s worse—my family thinking I’ve lost my mind or yours not being surprised at all that you’d do something like this?” Bolstered by my anger, I release my phone from time out and unlock it.

Philip puts a hand over mine before I can read anything. “My family loves me. Do they think I’m flighty and unserious?Absolutely—it’s also true. But I know that they would do anything for me if I asked, so I don’t mind the ribbing.”

He presses a kiss to the side of my head, and a warm fuzzy works its way down my spine, easing the tension knotting my stomach. “Your family loves you too. You’ve always acted with a high standard of having your shit together. Are they going to be surprised? I’m sure. Will they question your sanity? Very likely. But it won’t make them love you any less, liefling.”

“I still can’t believe I never asked you what that word meant before.”

“For the last year and a half, I’ve been waiting for you to ask. Or look it up on your own and show up ready to disabuse me of my fantasy.”

“Pretty sure I’ve been living on a river in Egypt.”

Philip scrunches his face, groaning. “That was so bad.”

I bend at the waist, awkwardly trying to bow from my position beside him on the couch. “I’ll be here all week, ladies and gentlemen.” I slither to the floor, phone still in hand. “Ready?”

Daisy:You didn’t seriously MARRY Philip, did you? What were you thinking? Are you even thinking about your future? Did you get knocked up? You know there’s other options than marrying him, right?

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