Page 126 of Nothing to You
Holding the top of the door, she rolled her eyes.“Yes, there’s sex.”
“I don’t want some dried-up nag as a wife.Sex is a deal-breaker.”
“We’ll still have sex.Nothing changes.Everything stays the way it is.Marriage just gives us the right to make medical decisions for each other and I get all your money if you die.”
“You’ll run it into the ground.”
“Mosaic?Oh, definitely.That’s what you’ll get for dying on me.”
When he got walking again, she sat in the car and closed the door as he did the same on his side.
He started the engine.“What about kids?”
“No kids.”
“No kids, okay.”He tipped his head to make eye contact.“You think marriage is an outdated construct designed to subjugate women.Meant to make them inferior to their husband.”
“And you think it’s a tired tradition forced on men to drag them down with the weight of a family when really they should be free.”
“But we’re going to do it anyway?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.You’re not taking my name.”
“Of course I am,” she said and grinned.“Only because I want to be Roux Radley-Rourke.”
A short, playful laugh left his lips.“Oh, yeah, take my name for sure.”For a few seconds, their eyes danced.So simple and straightforward, forever was one thing they could agree on.“Roux Radley-Rourke…” he came over all serious.“I do love you.”
She touched his cheek.“I know, baby.How could you not?”
“Even though you’re wrong so regularly.I’ll help you work on that.”
She smiled.“I love you too.”She exhaled faux resignation.“Despite your proclivity for being an arrogant jackass twenty-four seven.”
“See, wrong, just like that.Let’s face it, no other guy could keep you in line.You need a firm hand, Babycakes.”
“And you need an ego check.I’m only doing this to humor you.”
“I’m only doing it to subjugate you.”
“Forever means forever,” she said.“Regardless of your ridiculous ideas.It will take a lifetime to manipulate you into becoming a decent member of society.”
“Just decent?”
“I don’t have a lot to work with.”
He kissed her palm.“We need to renegotiate our original contract.”
“Original terms stand.”
“Agreed.This official thing is for tax purposes only.The friendship comes first.”When his voice went stern like that, she shivered.“Radley?”She nodded.“Good.”He gave her back her hand and as she fastened her seatbelt, he put the car in gear.Then nothing happened for a few seconds.“No one has to know about this, right?”
“God, no,” she said, strapping herself in.“I’m not telling anyone you’re the best I could do.”
“Good, that makes it easier to screw around.Married doesn’t mean exclusive.”
“Are you kidding?I’m already interviewing pool boys.”
