Page 37 of Hail Marry
I can’t help a smile as I search her eyes. “Does anything faze you?”
“Yes,” she says definitively. “You know when people leave that plastic film protector on new purchases? I hate that so much. But all this stuff?” She shrugs. “It’s just more paperwork.”
At the bank, it’s definitely more of that.
We settle on using the same place I bank with in an effort to simplify things a bit, and we barely manage to get a joint-account open before they close their doors at six. I transfer money in from my account, and Victoria does the same from hers. We both get set up with mobile debit cards we can use until the physical ones arrive, and we agree to use them as much as possible to show activity on the account.
We step out of the bank at 6:02, and the account specialist locks the doors behind us with a smile and a wave.
“Progress,” Victoria says, holding up the navy-blue folder the bank is sending us home with. “Preston will be so proud.”
“Hey,” I say. “Can you promise me something?”
Her brows go up. “What sort of promise are we talking about?”
“Look, you’ve been taking everything like a champ, Victoria. And maybe you’re just putting on a show because you’re worried aboutme?—”
She shakes her head.
“But I want you to know that, if at any point it gets to be too much? You can tell me. Say something. One word and you can back out, no questions asked.”
Her gaze holds mine, thoughtful and kind. More and more, I’m realizing how lucky I am that fate brought our paths together.
She smiles slightly. “You mean a safe word? Like flibbertigibbet or something?”
A laugh escapes me. Trust her to come up with a ridiculous option. “Sure. Something to help me know if you’re ever uncomfortable.”
She taps the folder against her mouth. “Not flibbertigibbet. Hmm…I’ll think of something. For the record, though? I’m not going to back out. You’re stuck with me until our divorce.” She wags her brows, then starts walking toward our cars, which we parked at meters on the street.
I watch her for a second before following. I don’t mind being stuck with Victoria, and even though I want her to feel comfortable and safe, I really hope she doesn’t back out.
10
TORI
“The number of outfits seems excessive.”I clip on a pair of earrings as Luca pulls into a parking space in Santa Monica. I don’t know why I bother. When my hair is down, it covers my earrings completely.
But the instructions Zach’s photographer friend sent were…detailed, to say the least. This is no hobbyist photographer. The man is clearly used to having creative control over his shoots.
As instructed, I’m wearing a fitted, green knee-length dress and strappy heels. I glance at Luca, who’s in a gray suit, white button-up, and brown leather dress shoes. His hair is tied back, as usual. Like I told Jess, he’s not my usual type—historically, I gravitate toward sun-kissed blond, life-of-the-party guys—but, even so, he’s…objectively good-looking. He’s got Ross Poldark vibes, but from my experience, Luca makes a lot fewer poor choices. But now I’m mildly curious how he might look with less shirt and more scythe.
In the backseat, our other outfits hang at the ready.
“You’re more quiet than usual,” I say as he pulls the keys from the ignition.
“I don’t like cameras,” he says.
We get out of the car, and I frown. “Don’t you have constant cameras on you at games?”
“It’s different. I don’t even notice them. I’m focused on the game.”
A man in his mid-forties with an enormous camera lens hanging around his neck approaches us. “Are you Luca and Victoria? I’m Jasper.”
“That’s us,” I say as he puts out his hand to shake ours.
He steps back and gives us a once-over, looking impressed. “You both look amazing. Makin’ my job easy already! Thank you for that.”
“We aim to please,” I say when Luca gives no response.
