The Pre-Nup Read Online Free

have so much left to do out here, I’d just stay at the hotel until—”
    “Perfect timing, then,” she said. “We’re always saying we should go somewhere together, take a real vacation.”
    Eric cleared his throat.
    “Oh, forget it,” she said. “That’s stupid, right? I know. You’re reading reports and overseeing things and, uh…auditing. You don’t have time for—”
    “No, no,” he stammered. “Come on out. It’ll be great. We’ll go see a show or something. Be total tourists. Take a carriage ride in Central Park.”
    “Never mind. I don’t know what got into me.” Jen gnawed the inside of her cheek. “I have a lot going on out here. And besides, someone has to feed the cat.”
    “Right, the cat.” Another long pause. “Well. I know you’re working.”
    “I am, indeed,” she said brightly. “And so are you. We’ll do it some other time. Plan something really special.”
    “Absolutely. Go someplace exotic.”
    “Tahiti, maybe. Or the Canary Islands.”
    “Whatever you want.” His voice was flat.
    “I’ll look up resorts online,” she promised, but she knew—and so did Eric—that this mythical vacation was never going to materialize.
    Another agonizing silence ensued. Jen squirmed in her cushy leather desk chair.
    “Okay. Well, you’re busy,” he said. “I’ll let you go.”
    “Stay warm!” She flinched at her own forced joviality. “Have a fresh bagel with lox for me.”
    “Will do. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.”
    And that, she told herself sternly as she hung up the phone, would have to be enough. Eric was a good husband, and Jen tried hard to be a good wife, but the truth loomed between them, unspoken but undeniable: They loved each other, but they weren’t in love.
    She clicked back to her data files, but couldn’t process the information splashed across the computer screen. The burn of shame and failure spread through her body. No way could she sit still. She snatched the phone back up and paced back and forth across the study. First she dialed Ellie’s number, but her call went straight to voice mail. Presumably, Ellie was too embroiled in an epic marital showdown to answer right now.
    Then she tried Mara, who picked up on the second ring.
    “Hey, babe, shouldn’t you be working?”
    Jen stopped in her tracks. “Hey! I don’t work
all
the time, you know.”
    “Just when you’re awake,” Mara amended. “My mistake.”
    “How can you say that? I just saw you a few hours ago. And did I say one word about Noda? No, I did not. I have a life, okay? I have—”
    “All right, all right, simmer down there. You don’t have to justify yourself to me. Nothing wrong with getting out there and making a little cheddar.”
    “That’s right,” Jen huffed. “Damn straight.”
    “I’m so glad you’re not defensive. Jeez.”
    “I’m not defensive; I’m merely pointing out—”
    “Oh, let’s not argue, little worker bee. What’s up? How may I help you on this fine, sunny afternoon?”
    “Well, actually, I’m a little…” Jen stopped before she had to spit out the word
lonely.
“Do you want to get together later? Catch a movie or something?”
    “Sounds great, but I’ll have to take a rain check. Josh and I are picking out wedding bands as we speak.”
    Jen automatically glanced down at the diamond sparkling away on her left hand, a reminder of the promise she and Eric had made to always stay hopeful and happy. “Aw. Are you having fun?”
    “Jewelry shopping is my personal definition of fun. And, hey, while we’re on the subject of fun, want me to schedule an appointment with the bridal salon to finalize the bridesmaids’ dress selection next weekend?”
    “Ooh, be still my heart. I’ll be counting the minutes.”
    “You just earned yourself an extra-poufy butt bow, missy.” Mara suddenly sounded louder, as if she’d cupped her hand over the phone’s mouthpiece. “Oh, and I didn’t want to say anything in front of Ellie this morning, but