“How did you know it would fit?” she asked curiously.
“You told me your ring size in Vegas. I remembered it.”
Kristin cringed, wondering why they were having that conversation in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, she’d been too drunk to recall. “I don’t remember it.”
“I’m not surprised.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. “You were completely hammered.”
She closed her eyes and swallowed, hoping the lump in her throat would disappear. Whether it had been good or bad, she hated the fact that she couldn’t remember her own wedding.
Later that night, Julian would have killed to join his wife for her shower before they went out for dinner.
But he called his brother instead.
“Hey. What’s up? You called?” Julian asked Micah as he flopped down on the living-room couch.
Micah had phoned earlier when he and Kristin were out watching the whales. He’d felt his phone vibrate, but he’d ignored the call.
“Yeah. Xander is coming back to Amesport. He says he’s ready to leave the rehab facility soon,” Micah informed Julian unhappily.
Shit! Julian had hoped he’d stay a little longer. “It’s too soon,” he told Micah adamantly.
“He says he’s clean, and if he stays there any longer, it’s going to make him want to start drinking again,” Micah said irritably. “I don’t like it, either. But it’s the furthest he’s ever gone in a program.”
“I’ll be home soon. I’ll be there to help.”
“Julian, you have a career to worry about,” Micah replied.
“Not anymore. I’ve made my last movie, bro. I’m not happy with doing the latest action films. I’m writing. All of this time working my way to the top and I discover I’m in the wrong area of my field,” he told his brother honestly.
“Are you doing this because of Xander?” Micah asked suspiciously.
“No. I’m doing it for me.”
“Okay. Then I guess I can use the help. And I’ll be damn glad to have you here.” Micah hesitated before he asked, “Are you really married to Kristin?”
“How did you know?” Julian had hoped to break the news to his brother himself, but he should have known it would get around.
“Since you sort of made a scene when Kristin was on a blind date, word spread pretty quickly. Do you know what you’re doing right now? Marriage is no joke. I mean, the honeymoon might be fun and all, but it’s a serious commitment, Julian.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Julian retorted irritably.
“Do you?”
Letting his grip relax on the phone, he told his older brother more calmly, “Yeah. I do, actually. I think she’s had me tied up in knots since she flung her first insult at me,” he confessed. “I’ve known exactly how I’ve felt for a long time. Convincing Kristin is a little more difficult.”
Micah chuckled. “If anybody can do it, you can. You’re the most persistent guy I know.”
“Working on it,” Julian confirmed. He hesitated before adding, “Maybe we were both drunk when we got married in Vegas, but I wasn’t drunk enough not to know exactly what I was doing.” He wanted Micah to understand that in no way did he take his marriage lightly. “Speaking of marriage, how is Tessa doing?”
“She’s good. A little nervous about the possibility of surgery again, but she’s pretty damn strong.”
Julian thought about that for a minute before he answered. “Has she gotten any word on whether or not she’ll be eligible for cochlear implants?”
“Not yet. But the doctor in New York thought she would be. We’ll be seeing her next month after the holidays are over.”
Christmas was coming. Julian had almost forgotten. “It’s hard to think about winter when you’re in Maui,” he said jokingly.
“Lucky bastard,” Micah grumbled. “I’m taking Tessa there after we get past this surgical possibility.”
“You should. She’d love it. We did a good deal for this place.”
“Dare I ask how you think things are going to end up with your marriage? You did the deed in Vegas while you were both intoxicated. You could get out of it fairly easily.” Obviously Micah wasn’t satisfied enough to drop the subject.
“I don’t know.” Julian ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Was it worth it?” Julian blurted out. “All the pain, the work and frustration. You and Tessa had some issues. Was it worth it to hang in there?”
“Every minute of it,” Micah answered genuinely. “I’d go through hell and back for her.” He paused before asking, “Are you really thinking about staying together permanently?”
“I’m thinking about it. I’m not sure she is,” Julian stated flatly.
“It’s worth hanging in there to find out,” Micah mused. “From what I understand, Kristin had to grow up fast, and she’s hyper-responsible. Maybe the load was too much for her.”