“You’re kidding?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. Wes went with me when I cashed it out before we made our way to the courthouse to get the license done.”

“I don’t even know what to say about all that,” he admitted.

“Nothing,” I murmured, because honestly, what was there to say?

“Okay, well, I feel like I need to clear some things up. I haven’t slept with anyone else since we tied the knot.”

“Okay?” It was a question, because I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to know that, or where he was going with the disclosure.

“It’s not okay,” he argued my questioning tone. “It’s not okay that you aren’t demanding those answers for yourself, Mina.”

“I’m getting a little whiplash here, to be honest.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“When we entered into this arrangement, you made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me physically, in fact you pointed out several times that I don’t do it for you anyway.” He winced as I mentioned that part, but I wasn’t sure why. They had been his words. His feelings. His admissions and desires, or lack thereof, shouldn’t embarrass him. “You also made it clear that you wouldn’t stop what you were doing with other women, and only promised to be discreet about it in future. So, why would I ask questions about things you said were going to happen? I don’t want to know the details, Tucker.”

“There are no details. I know what I said, and I was angry at my family and taking it out on you like a dick. I’m sorry for that too. There hasn’t been anyone else. I stayed across the hall in Wes’s guest room the past few days to give you some space to adjust. That’s all. What happened with the realtor today, that was a fluke, but I swear to you that I didn’t touch her and didn’t encourage that shit either.”

“Okay.” I knew it wasn’t the word he wanted to hear, but I honestly didn’t think there was a better one. What was I supposed to do? Congratulate him on not breaking his vows so soon? “I also have not slept with anyone else. I’ve been here pretty much the whole time, studying, cleaning, and working.”

“Why did you really agree to this? If you thought I was going to just marry you and continue being a complete shit of a person, why go through with it?”

“I have my own reasons.”

“I’d like to know them.”

“Well, we don’t get everything we want in this life and I am not inclined to share that answer with you right now. Let’s just say that it worked out because of what I have going on in my life at the moment, if later on down the road it no longer works with what I want, then we’ll talk it over and change things up.”

“Are you going to hate me forever?” His words were quiet, just above a whisper, as he asked.