He Made Me Sign, Not Knowing I Was Another's Wife novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: Rule Three

We sat on the back steps of Ruth's house that night, with the porch light off and a blanket between us.

Ruth had gone to bed early, with a loud announcement that she was deaf.

The steps were cold through my dress.

Ansel had a paper cup of Ruth's terrible coffee going cold in his hands.

"All four rules," I said. "You said you wanted to break them."

"I did."

"Start with the first."

"A year." He turned the cup. "I came back from Bergen with a ticket for the end of the year, to hand you a lawyer's letter that said you were free. I had it drafted."

"You had a letter."

"In my bag. It's still there."

"Burn it."

"I intend to." He looked at the dark yard. "I took a position here last month, on the harbor crossing. I haven't told anyone. I planned to tell you when the year was up, and not before, because I didn't want you to feel you owed me an answer."

I stared at him.

"You moved your whole life."

"Not yet. I signed. I haven't packed." He almost smiled. "So the year is off, if you like. I won't be going anywhere."

"That's one."

"Two, separate rooms."

"I broke that one."

"You broke it very nicely on Friday."

I felt the heat climb my neck and did not care.

"Three," I said. "No touching unless one of us asks."

"I like three."

"So do I."

"I'd keep three," he said. "I'd ask you every morning. I'd like to."

"Why?"

"Because it means I get to hear you say yes."

The cold fell away from the steps.

I put my hand over his on the paper cup, and the coffee went over the side of the step, and neither of us looked down.

"Four," I said. "No lies."

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