Page 130 of The Exception

“Thanks. We’d miss everyone too, but we’d visit. And it would make things a lot easier if we only had to commute from London instead of LA.”

I said that, but I’d definitely miss my family. And Pierce, who was practically like family.

I glanced over at my best friend. He’d been silent through all of this. A muscle in his jaw ticked, and I knew him well enough to know he was agitated about something.

“You’re making a lot of sacrifices for Lily.” He gave me a knowing look.

“They’re not sacrifices when you love someone,” I said, laying down my cards. Putting it all on the table.

“Graham’s right,” Knox said. “Loving Kendall never feels like a sacrifice.”

“I’m not saying that love’s a sacrifice,” Pierce said.

“Then what are you saying?” Jasper’s tone was more curious than judgmental.

“I’m just wanting to make sure that Lily is as committed to you and your relationship as you are to her.”

“Lily is committed,” I gritted out. He was walking a fine line.

“Definitely committed.” Jasper kept his eyes on his cards. “No doubt about that.”

“Not a word.” I glared at Jasper out of the corner of my eye. “Not. One. Word.”

Knox and Nate glanced between us. “What’s going on?” Knox asked.

“Yeah. What’d we miss?” Nate asked.

Jasper looked as if he might burst.

“Jasper,” I chided. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” He smirked. “Tell them I caught the two of you fucking in your office?”

I growled. “That was a private moment.”

“Then I suggest you don’t share a ‘private moment’ in a public place next time,” Jasper said, raking the chips toward himself.

He’d won the round, and I rolled my eyes. He’d probably done all this to distract me so he could win.

We played a few more rounds, and then I followed Pierce out to his car while Jasper stayed behind to chat with Nate and Knox.

“What was that about?” I asked.

“I’m just trying to look out for you. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

I lifted a shoulder. “I’m happy. Why aren’t you happy for me? Our plan is working, even better than we could’ve hoped.”

“I just want to make sure she’s not taking advantage of you.”

“Where is this coming from?” I asked.

“You asked me to transfer the remaining ten million to the trust, and yet you haven’t been married for two years, as required by the contract. Hell, you’ve barely been married two months.”

I lifted a shoulder. “I’m passionate about the project, and I don’t want Lily to stress about the funding. We’re together, and I want her to have the money.”

I also didn’t want her to think our relationship was transactional or that my love was conditional. I wanted to love freely and without restriction, and I wanted her to do the same.

“And the will?” he asked.

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