Page 9 (1/2)

Chapter One

Wyatt

“I need a wife”

“Not this again,” Lucy groans She covers her eyes as if blocking her sight will block out aze She refuses

“Yes, this again, and this ti and said that he wanted to promote me to the executive cole Uncle Cristoff came by my office and stood at the doorway for fivelike someone had kicked his puppy”

“He doesn’t have a puppy” She pulls her hand out of mine and brushes so a pizza while watching Chef’s Table on Netflix We always eat while atch the show, but while the on-screen people are eating soredients that Lucy and I have to google, we’reon takeout from the local pizzeria or Thai place Neither of us have the time or skill to cook We live on restaurant food Maybe that’s the problem I try to remember if any of Lucy’s past boyfriends cooked I can’t recall, but it’s because I’ve blocked all those ht them up

“I know That’s what made it even sadder”

“What’d you do?”

“What do you think I did? I pretended he wasn’t there” Like I pretend her exes don’t exist Anydepositions froht case, and he finally moved on”

“So get married”

“I can’t I’ myself for you,” I reply as I always do

“Har har har,” she fake laughs and then punches h, if gettingover the firet er”

“I’et tired easier After o, I could do the run and lift weights for an hour and still feel energized These days, I’ home out of breath What a pisser

“Like I said”—she pushes to her feet, as graceful as a ballerina—“you’re not getting any younger” She walks toward the door of led with mine “I’ll send you a list of women”

“I don’t want it” I cross my arms like a petulant kid

“Uncle Cristoff isn’t going to retire until the partners vote you into the chair seat, and if it requires you to get married, then I think we both knohat you should do”

“Kidnap you,” I mutter under my breath

“What was that?” She hitches on her jacket

“I was closing the pizza box Did you hear soe thing again