Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You

Rebecca

Marcus nearly swerves the car into the next lane. "What?!"

I dissolve into laughter, grabbing his arm. "I’m kidding! Oh my god, your face—"

He shakes his head, smiling despite himself, that stunned look still lingering. "You can’t just casually drop a proposal while I’m driving, Rebecca. That’s how accidents happen."

"Well," I say, teasing, "you did say you wanted someone who saw you. This is what happens when someone sees you too much."

He gives me a long sideways look, then turns his eyes back to the road. "Yeah, well... maybe I liked it."

I grin, leaning back in my seat. The air between us feels lighter now, even though we’re both carrying a thousand-pound past.

He glances at me again, eyes softer now. "You sure you’re ready for all my baggage, though? Because I come with several emotional suitcases and a carry-on of unresolved trauma."

I pretend to consider. "I mean... as long as you let me alphabetize the contents, we should be okay."

Marcus laughs. It is a real laugh this time.

"I wasn’t joking about Megan, though," he adds, smile still tugging at the edge of his mouth. "She’s got opinions. And she really likes you."