Fake Marriage Box Set

"Well, put it back on. It's not supposed to stay shiny and pretty. It's there to remind you that you're bound to another person." She narrowed her eyes a little. "When is Maddie moving in? I expected to see more of her."

"Soon, Mom. We'll be over for dinner tomorrow night, and I'll let her update you on all of that. That sound good?" I stood as her eyelashes fluttered. She was beaten.

"Yeah. I'd like that." She yawned and turned to look back out the window. "Close the door on your way out, and put your damn ring back on."

"Okay, Mom." I walked to the door. "And I'll start that journal."

"Good. It will save you loads of heartache, or at least pull you back each time you want to give up." She turned and coughed, shaking the bed with the violence of it.

I waited by the door to make sure she was alright. As her breathing deepened, I slipped out. I stopped by the house and grabbed my keys to head to the dock. An afternoon on the boat with Ron would do me some good. At least it would keep me from walking circles around my office in hopes of writing something.

The only thing I was doing better than that was missing Maddie. And that was something I would never admit.

"Hey, buddy. How goes it?" Ron offered me a hand, shaking mine as I got onto the boat. He looked far more alive than I felt. Of course, his life wasn’t falling apart on all sides, and I was glad it wasn’t.

I ran my fingers through my hair and glanced around the beautiful view in front of us and took a deep breath. Something about the water soothed my soul and gave me rest when I needed it the most. For that alone, I would always own a boat. "Better now."

"Let's get outta here for a while." He pointed to a cooler on the ground. "I brought beer."

"You're a good man." I moved to start up the boat and pulled us away from the dock.

"No, you're a good man." He pulled out two beers and offered me on, his words surprising me a little.

"Why is that?" I took mine, popped the top and took a long drink.

"Because I realized something the other day."

"You thinking again? You know that's bad for you." I turned in my seat and watched the waves splash up on the side of the boat.

"You married Maddie for your momma, didn't you?" He dropped down into the seat across from me and gave me a knowing stare.

"Why do you think that?" Horror raced through me. Did Maddie say something to Ron? It was one of the rules she was forbidden to break. Ron couldn't lie to save his own ass. He shouldn't have known about what we'd done.

"Because I've known you my whole life. You might like my cousin, but you married her to appease your mother. She's been looking forward to you getting married and having kids since we were old enough to skip rocks across the water." He snorted and lifted his beer toward me. "Maddie didn't say anything to me if that's what you're thinking. I'm just saying that you're a damn good man, Gavin. I'm glad you're my best friend. Makes me feel a little bit better about myself sometimes."

I chuckled as relief flooded my chest. Maddie hadn't broken a rule. Good. I wasn't sure what type of retaliation I would have enacted had she gone against my word.

"You shouldn't feel better about yourself." I smiled. "You're a scoundrel."

He wagged his eyebrows. "The ladies sure like it."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair. "Maddie played the part well, didn't she?"

"Hell yeah. That girl's got boatloads of talent." He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "And don't worry about me saying anything to anyone. I know what you've given up to make this happen."

"You do?" I lifted my eyebrow.

"Yeah. Your pride, your time, your energy." He shook his head. "I couldn't do it."

"Sure you could." Relief flooded me again. I was going to have an emotional breakdown if he kept accidentally toying with my emotions so fucking well.

"Nope. Not in a million years." He drained his beer and burped, standing and walking over to get another one. "And knowing my damn luck, I'd end up falling in love. My cousin is a looker for sure."

"Doesn't seem like that's just your luck," I mumbled.

"Hmmm?" He sat down and gave me a funny look. "You starting to have feelings for her?"

"Starting? No. I have for a while." I took a long pull from my beer. "And I need to stop. I'm not sure I'll survive losing her and momma at the same time. Funny thing is, Maddie was never mine to begin with."