Page 63 of My Husband Problem

I’m counting on it. Not only am I calling Astrid’s bluff, but my grandfather is going to love this.

I came to Rebel determined to change the course of my relationship with my family and my marriage. Doing a karaoke number at center ice dressed as a knight? Could be worse.

I finally glance at Astrid. She is not swooning. She doesn’t look impressed. Or like she’s ready to tear her clothes off. Or even shocked.

She looks frustrated. Like I’m fucking up all of her plans. She’s also shaking her head as she chews on ice from her soda.

She looks like she’s plotting.

I don’t even try to hide my smile.

Yes, it could definitely be worse.

The guys spend the next few minutes planning things out in between bites of food and refills of their drinks.

I reach for the shrimp on Astrid’s plate and grab one before she does. She frowns as I pop it into my mouth and chew, judging its spiciness.

It’s a smoky, sweet barbecue sauce that's delicious.

“Good to go,” I tell her, with a wink.

With brows arched, she lifts one to her mouth.

“Sorry, did youwantme to sweep you up and carry you out of here again tonight?” I ask. “Because that can be arranged without setting your mouth on fire.”

She coughs slightly and then swallows, reaching for her soda. But I know it’s not about the shrimp. I think deep down she liked my response to her distress last night.

Or maybe not so deep down.

I return to my jambalaya with a grin.

Conversation around the table eventually shifts to something more casual. Seemingly.

“So you landed an amazing woman, give me some advice,” Beckett says to me.

I have to swallow a bite of jambalaya before I answer, which gives me a second to come up with something other than ‘have her grandfather make her marry you’. “You’re trying to land an amazing woman?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Maybe not reminding her you’re a lot younger, calling yourself a kid, and asking her to adopt you would help,” Hudson tells him.

Beckett sighs. “I was just trying to lighten the moment.”

“Andi?” I guess.

Beckett nods. “And before you tell me she’s too good for me, I totally know.”

I look at Astrid. “Yeah, I know a little bit about that.”

She stops short of rolling her eyes, but I see it and nearly laugh. She can think this is a show I’m putting on, but she’ll learn in time that it’s all real. She’s stubborn. But I’m more so.

“How did he get you?” Beckett asks Astrid. “I mean, I know he’s rich, and he’s clearly a catch, but he doesn’t seem like the type to flirt. How did he first ask you out? What kind of dates did he take you on?”

Astrid snorts. I turn toward her, interested in how she’s going to answer this.

I avoid looking at Alex. He knows the true story too. He was there. But I assume Astrid is not going to tell the world that our marriage was perpetuated by a long-time pact between our grandfathers. Perhaps her closer friends know the truth, but our arranged marriage has stayed a private family matter.

She lifts a brow. “He was very…” Her eyes scan over my face, then settle on my mouth before going back to Beckett. “Determined. Bossy even. Definitely not flirty. He basically just saidwe need to be together.”