Page 73 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

I cover the phone and ask East. She shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head.

“Not right now, but I am sure we can get you everything you need.”

“That’s okay. We will need some identification and your marriage certificate.”

“No problem. We will see you at 9:00 a.m.”

I cut the call. East looks on. Her mouth is tightly closed, her eyes are sharp, and she is shaking her head.

“What?” I ask.

“Well, a few things, really,” she replies. “Why have you just changed my doctors?”

“Because you said it would take ages to get through. My doctors will see me anytime I want, and now they will see you, too.”

“Okay, but didn’t you think to ask me first?”

“No, it makes sense we are at the same doctors, and I wasn’t changing to yours if they’re as shit as you say they are.”

“I didn’t say they were shit. It just takes ages to get through to them.”

“Look, all doctors are the same. It doesn’t really matter, does it? We’ll get the same outcome no matter who we see, but at least this way, we will have an answer by 9:30 at the latest.”

I know I’m making sense, but for some reason, East looks really uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’ve just told the receptionist I’m your wife, you’ve just changed my doctors, and we haven’t even had a discussion or talked about what the hell is going on with us.”

She does have a point. I’m so used to organising everyone around me. I just organised East right into my life.

I take a slow, deep breath and dive right in.

“Fair comment. So, what do you want to do about us?” My heart starts to race.What if she doesn’t want an “us”?

“I don’t know. I don’t think we should keep telling people that we are married, though.”

“But we are.”

“I know, but, Zed, we have had this conversation a few times now, and you have never told me how you feel about the whole being married thing. You told me that it wasn’t on the cards for you. You didn’t want a life like West and North. That’s what staying married would mean.”

“But that was before I got to know you. I didn’t ever see myself with anyone permanently. It would have been too hard for both parties. But you’re different.”

“Why am I different?”

“You know why. I’ve told you.”

“Tell me again, then, because I don’t seem to remember.”

Maybe I didn’t tell her. Maybe I’ve been telling myself, and I’ve not made it clear.

“You are different, East, because you’re not just any woman. I see you as an equal. You are tough and strong, and you have been brought up in my world. That is something that no other woman in the universe has. You have the guts of ten men, you’re fearless, and if I need to say it, I will: you’re hot as fuck.”

She’s so damn beautiful when she blushes.

“Oh, okay, so, all that being said, what is ityouwant?”

“You.” I step closer and take her hand in mine. “It’s you I want. I want to see where this goes. When I was in Mexico, I had to make a conscious effort to not think about you, to not pick up my phone and ask how you were.”

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