easygoing these people are. I can’t imagine making a comment like this around my family without offending someone!
“Well, he definitely gets it from Annie. He looks a lot like his father, sure, but he has Annie’s perfect features. I always thought he was probably going to turn out to be a drop-dead hunk with the combination of those two. And I was right.”
She touches my arm lightly. “Are you okay, dear?” she asks, and I nod.
“It seems like the two of you really love each other. I’ll be honest, at first, I was surprised by the difference in age, but it seems natural. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and you always blush when you look at him. It’s so sweet,” Christie adds while she dries her hand on a tea towel.
I don’t know what to say, and I’m starting to feel a little sick. The last thing I want to do is deceive these people and the trust they have in us.
“How long have you been married? Can’t be long, right? You’re so young,” Sally says kindly.
I look at Reed. He can’t overhear the conversation. We haven’t discussed the details of our lie so I don’t know what to say.
“Uhh. Two years. No, one. I mean, we’ve been together for two years and married for one.” I sound like an idiot now. The two women nod along, and it seems like they don’t suspect a thing.
“Well, I wish a long and happy married life to you both. I can’t even imagine what your kids are going to look like! Goodness!” Sally exclaims, and Christie laughs at that.
Jerry comes into the kitchen then and while he looks through the cupboards for popcorn, I notice how he places a hand on his wife’s hip. There’s a loving tenderness between them. What should exist between a couple, no matter how long they have been married.
My throat is starkly dry when I turn to look at Reed again. I don’t want to go there—I don’t want to imagine what it would be like if he came into the kitchen right now and held me like a husband would hold his wife.
I can feel the coldness of the gold band on my finger, and I clench my palm tight. This was a bad idea.
I am up in Jerry’s old room and my heart is thudding in my chest. I can hear the sound of baseball on the TV downstairs. The men are watching old reruns and talking loudly. I didn’t want to stay there with them because I thought I needed time to think; now I don’t know how to calm my brain.
The reality of the situation is finally sinking in. Very soon, Reed is going to walk up those stairs and enter this bedroom. What will he find? Me fast asleep in this bed we are supposed to share? Me wide awake and in nothing but my lingerie, sitting up in bed waiting for him?
I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know what to do.
I want him. I can’t stop thinking about him. This pretend-play at husband and wife is taking its toll on me. I’m having fantasies about us playing house, being a real couple, spending the night together as man and wife.
I decide to change. No, I’m not going to strip down to my lingerie. That would be insane. What if that isn’t what he’s expecting? What if he just wants to come back here and go to sleep? He must be exhausted after the day he’s had.
I packed a negligee. The only one I own, which I bought on a whim several months ago. I’ve never worn it before. It’s black lace, short, and practically see-through. While I’m putting it on, I have a sudden fear that he’s just going to end up laughing at me when he sees me.
There’s a mirror in one corner of the room. I stand in front of it. My breasts are spilling out over the deep neckline. It’s a very flattering outfit, accentuating my curves. I’ve tied my hair up in a loose messy bun and removed the little makeup I was wearing.
I bite down on my lip, continuing to admire myself in the mirror when I hear the sound of footsteps on the stairs. It’s him. He’s going to see me.
With one long leap, I jump into bed, pulling the sheets up to my chin to cover myself. But the lights are still on, the door opens, and Reed is