Page 116 of Irresistibly Wicked

“That’s it?” He grabbed her ribs.

She startled out a laugh. “Okay, okay. I’ll miss your Loch Ness monster.”

“That’s a given,” he said arrogantly, and hugged her tight.

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage, “The truth is, I’ll miss you a lot.”

“Yeah, me, too.” He kissed her shoulder. “Are you nervous about picking up Brian?”

“Yes, but I’m also excited to see him. It feels like it’s been forever since we were in the same room, and we have a lot to talk about.”

“My offer still stands to go with you.”

He’d offered every time they’d talked about it, but as much as she wanted him to be there for her, she had to put Brian first. “I appreciate that, but I think it’ll be easier for him if it’s just the two of us.”

“Did you decide if you’re going to tell him about the marriage?”

She’d spent the last two weeks mulling that over, and it was one of the hardest decisions she’d had to make. “I’m not going to. I hate keeping secrets from him, but I don’t want to do or say anything that might set him back. I’ll tell him eventually, when I feel like he’s in a good enough place. We have so much to do once he’s home. He needs a sponsor and a job, and I don’t know how well his car will hold up, so he may need to find a job on the bus line, and we need to heal our relationship.”

Zander hugged her tight again, but he was quiet, leaving only the sounds of the waves to buffer the worries in her head.

“He doesn’t have to worry about transportation,” he finally said. “We cleaned out Brian’s car to make sure there was no hidden drug paraphernalia, and Tobias used to be a mechanic, so I had him fix it, to be sure it’s safe. I’ve also been taking it out once a week to keep it running. Cars shouldn’t sit idle.”

Shocked, and a little annoyed, she leaned to the side, looking up at him over her shoulder, and said, “Zander, you didn’t have to do that. Brian and I would have figured it out.”

“I have no doubt, but like you said, rehab is just the beginning. He’s got a long, hard road ahead of him, and so do you. From what I know about addiction, every minute of the day can be a struggle. I’m sure the urge to go back to old habits when things get hard is a torturous battle. I just wanted to give him a leg up. A fighting chance.”

How could she be irritated at that? “Thank you. I appreciate that. I really do, but I wish you’d said something about it before doing it. Part of recovery is making amends for your past mistakes. I’ll make sure Brian pays Tobias for the work he did.”

“If you think he needs to for his recovery, that’s fine, but it’s not necessary.”

“I know, but he needs it. Trust me, he’ll want to do it.” She settled against his chest again. “Are you sure you want to see him tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Why? I know you were raised to help people, but why put yourself in that position?”

“Because you were his before you were mine, and you turned your life inside out for him. That tells me he’s worth fighting for, and just because our contract is ending doesn’t mean you’re on your own. It’s not just you and Brian anymore. You have a support system, and so does he. We’ve all got your backs, and we always will.”

Her eyes teared up. She was glad he couldn’t see her face as she tried to blink them dry.

“I bet you wish you’d bought those baggy sweatpants and a mask now, don’t you?” he asked, and kissed her shoulder.

A nervous laugh tumbled out, and she stretched her arms, arching away from his chest so he wouldn’t feel the tremble tiptoeing through her. “No, but I bet you do.”

“Fuck yeah, I do.” He handed her the warm mug of coffee and said, “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and those benefits?” He whistled. “You know I’m going to have withdrawals.”

This was a lot harder than she’d thought it would be. “I’m sure there are plenty of willing women who’d love a turn as the fake Mrs. Wicked. At least you’ll know they’re not just repaying a debt.”

“Don’t try to pretend that’s why you slept with me,” he said with a biting tone.

“If you say so,” she said sarcastically.

He shifted to the side, glowering at her. “You did not.”

“Whatever you need to believe,” she teased.

“You’re a wicked woman, Flores.”