Page 37 of On The Rocks

The fact was, I’d assumed we’d have a normal marriage after we’d taken time to get to know each other and settled into our new life. I wanted a baby, though not immediately, and to reach the same milestones as other couples. Except, judging by Callum’s derisive words and less-than-stellar opinion of me, it was clear I’d been naïve. And after all his kindness earlier that day, it cut me true and deep.

I swept a hand between us. “I thought we?—”

“Maeve,” he interrupted gently. “I’ll repeat. We don’t know each other. We’ve met a handful of times, and even then, we never really interacted. I’m glad we got married because you needed to get away from here, and I needed to get my mam off my back about settling down, but can you honestly say I’m your type?”

My lungs contracted, and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe because the meaning of his words hit me square in the chest.

He really meant I wasn’t his type.

Fire burned the back of my throat.

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

“I like you. You’re a sweet girl, but we’re the worst-matched couple in existence. I don’t read; that’s all you do. I’m happiest pulling pints and shooting the shit with the boys; you’re socially awkward. The kind of women I’m usually into are the opposite of you. We can make this work for as long as we need to, then part ways. Eventually, I can give you the freedom to do what you want, and in the meantime, I’ll give you a separate room and full discretion. We do what we want with who we want but keep it on the down-low.”

Pain shot through me.

“You want to see other people,” I croaked, more of a statement than a question.

“Makes sense. It’s not like we’re in love. I’ve never fallen yet ‘cause I never even wanted to get serious with anyone. You’re the closest I’ve come.”

“So you married me to keep your mam off your back,” I whispered, another statement.

“You’re not the victim here, especially when you married me to get away from them.” He nodded toward the house.

I blinked up at him.

I mean, Callum wasn’t wrong, but there was also more to it for me than a way to escape. I wouldn’t have entertained the idea of marrying Callum if I didn’t see a future with him. After what he did for me that day and the way he had my back, I was secretly already half-smitten. I mean, he’d been incredible.

Until now.

Now, I just wanted to slap his beautiful face, because if he’d told me he wanted to see other people before the ceremony, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. I may not have beenhis type, but I had my pride, too. Now I was stuck in something I had no clue how to navigate; I mean, he’d told me in so many words he was going to cheat and gave me his blessing to do the same.

Who did that?

Eyes wide, I stared at him, hoping I’d misunderstood and he hadn’t actually meant those things. A part of me was waiting for him to tell me he was joking, but the long, awkward silence filling the car was so loud it almost deafened me.

My heart twisted painfully.

How the hell have I become a straight man’s beard?

Jesus Christ.

Callum unclipped his seat belt and threw the door open. “Glad we had the talk, babe. I was worried we weren’t on the same page. Gonna go organize your stuff and sort my shit with Paddy before we leave.” He made an ‘eek’ face. “Don’t think he was on board with me throwing everybody outta the wedding.”

Stunned into silence, I watched my husband unfold from the car and swagger inside the house, throwing the maid a flirty wink as she met him at the door.

A pang that felt a lot like jealousy tore through my chest, and I dug the heel of my palm into my eye, trying to stem the tears threatening to fall.

What the hell just happened?

Throwing my head back, I groaned to the heavens, “God. What have I done?”

Was this going to be my life now? Watching Callum flirt with everyone in a skirt? Would I lay in bed at night wondering where he was and who he was with?

Moments ago, my future shone so bright it was blinding. Now, it just seemed seedy and wrong.

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