Page 84 of More than Paper

“She used her mother’s maiden name. Gómez is her real last name and on our marriage certificate.”

She closes her eyes as if pained at the notion of a marriage certificate.

I pull her over to the bed. “Put your pajamas on, get in bed, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

She takes a shaky breath but nods. “Okay.”

I grab her suitcase, open it up on the bed, find her nightshirt, and hand it to her. “Let me go throw a pair of shorts on.”

“Okay.”

I quickly change, and when I get back, she has changed but is standing by the window again.

“Quinn, come to bed.” I put my arm around her waist and lead her to the bed, pull the covers back, and she slides in.

I slip under the covers next to her and pull her into my arms.

“Who knows you’re married?”

“My parents and siblings. Chase, Noah, Xander, and Cindy. That’s it. Oh, and Mary, who is V’s best friend. She was her roommate fifteen years ago. She’s the one who suggested we get married so V didn’t get deported. Xander’s ex-girlfriend Billie...but she doesn’t know the real story. And our old friend Matt, who we don’t talk to anymore because he slept with Chase’s girlfriend.”

She gapes. “Your friend did what?”

“Let’s talk about that another time.”

“Okay, but Chase knew and didn’t say anything to me?”

I sigh. “Quinn, I’ve never told anyone before you.”

“You only told me because I walked into your conversation.”

“That’s not true. I was going to tell you when you told me you would move. I’m not lying. Ask V.”

“I don’t want to ask your wife,” she snaps.

I don’t say anything.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be nasty about her. She seems nice.”

“I told her the day after I first asked you to move in that I was in love with you and wanted you to move to New York. She told me to tell you about our situation. I should have listened to her. I’m sorry.”

“So you assumed this entire time that I wasn’t fully committed to you just because I was figuring out how to make this big move?”

I kiss the top of her head. “I thought maybe you weren’t sure about us.”

“How could you think that?”

I sigh. “I don’t understand what is keeping you in Chicago when we can be together.”

“I told you what my reasons were.”

“I know you did. But it doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Why is it so hard for you to understand?”

“Quinn.”

She rolls onto her side so she’s facing me. “No. What is so hard about it?”

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