Page 75 of Happy Wife

Maybe that’s why, when Will proposed we go out to dinner one night, I leaped across the kitchen to hug him.

“I would love that.” I smiled.

His face screwed up a little at the sight of my enthusiasm. Like he hated to be the one to break the news to me. “There’s a catch,I’m afraid.” He sighed. “It’s a work thing. I’m sorry. Fritz thinks it would be a good idea for the four of us to get dinner.”

My shoulders fell. “Like you and me? With him and Gianna?”

“I know she’s not your favorite person. And I told him I barely have time to have dinner with you thanks to his latest fuckup, but he insisted.”

“I don’t hate her. But I am certain she…disapproves of me.”

“What? Why?”

Does he really not know what people say about me?

“I don’t know. She’s just Gianna. And I’m…not.”

“Yeah, you’re you. My wife. Right?”

Right.

He needed this. I could see it in his eyes.

“Of course. We’ll go. It’ll be…fun.” I nodded, walked toward him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Determined not to let this turn into a fight. “But you’ll still play footsie with me under the table, though?”

He smiled weakly. “Sure.”

God, he looks so tired.

“Is everything okay? You’ve been working like a madman, and it seems like you’re always stressed and cleaning up Fritz’s messes.”

He pulled me close, and I rested my head on his chest. I heard his heart beating, and I tried to listen for signs of distress. He kissed the top of my head. “Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.”

—

“Wow, Nora.” Will took in a breath and pulled one hand to his chest when I walked into his office the night of the dinner. He was already dressed for dinner but had gone back to his office to knock out a few emails when I told him that I needed ten more minutes to finish my makeup.

I had spent hours on TikTok, searching for the perfect smoky eye makeup tutorial. If I was going to have to sit across from Gianna all night, I was going to look perfect. Because she was perfect.

“You like it?” I turned in place to show off the form-fitting designer dress I had borrowed from Este’s closet. “I went shopping at Este’s.”

She might be a boho fairy by day, but Este’s evening wear could make aVogueeditor weep.

“Tell her I’ll buy the dress from her.” He came toward me.

“I’ll see what I can do.” I giggled.

It was nice to see an emotion that wasn’t exhaustion or frustration from Will. Maybe this double date could be fun.

“Let’s go.” He touched the small of my back and guided me toward the garage.

Once we were loaded into his car, though, he looked over at me. “I just realized I forgot where we’re going.”

Will had left the reservations to me, and I called in a favor with Marcus for Lemon & Fig. Apparently weekend reservations were booked weeks—if not months—out. Even though it was the first time my name, not Will’s, was the fix for snagging a restaurant reservation, I didn’t offer up the fact that Marcus was a friend of mine.

“Lemon and Fig. Este and Beau are friends with the chef.”

Will nodded and reached a hand across the center console to hold mine as we headed down the driveway.

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