Page 3 of My Husband Problem

I’ve been over that moment in my mind a million times. I still have no idea exactly what happened. But the fall was catastrophic. Not only to my body, but to my future. Everything I thought about what I wanted and about who I am changed in that moment.

Unable to speak past the tightness, I simply nod.

“And,” Linnea says with a grin, “he’s seen how everyone in Rebel loves Miles, and that they think you two make a wonderful couple.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. “People have been saying that about Miles and me for years.”

“I don’t think Diarmuid has ever really seen any of that. Or paid attention.”

“Nothing is going to happen with Miles and me.”

Linnea nods. She knows that Miles and I are only friends.

“But if it gets you out of the marriage to Declan, then this rumor is good, right?”

“Right. Definitely.” I cannot stay married to Declan.

I was a disappointment as a gymnast and Olympian, but that’s nothing compared to how disappointing I’ll be as a wife to his grandson.

“So what do I need to do?” I ask my sister.

“You and Declan need to show up here together next week, and Diarmuid will officially annul the marriage.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. You just have to get through a few more days.” She laughs. “And with Declan in Portland and you in Rebel, that should be easy, right?”

“Yep.” I take a deep breath. I can do one more week. “No problem.”

Suddenly, a text pops up from my neighbor.

Wilson:Thought you should know, your husband is on your front porch.

Oh.

Crap.

“Are you okay?” my sister asks, clearly reading the change in my expression.

It only takes me about three seconds to realize that I should have expected this. I sigh. “Turns out, I do have a problem after all.”

“Oh? What kind of problem?”

“A husband problem.”

CHAPTER 3

ASTRID

I can still feelthe cayenne from the “sassy shrimp” in the back of my throat, and that was two lemon garlic shrimp and a glass of water ago. Fine, it was a glass of water and half a lemon-garlic shrimp ago. The other one and a half shrimp are in my purse along with the two other sassy shrimp someone put on my plate.

Why does Bruce needanotherspicy shrimp dish on his menu? He’s already got Bruce’s Best Shrimp, which I was tricked into trying during my first week in Rebel. I lost taste buds I’ll never get back.

And even his lemon garlic shrimp is spicier than necessary. Why? Lemon isn’t spicy. Garlic isn’t spicy. I love them both. Why the hell does it need to also have red pepper flakes and paprika?

These people actually believe that their food has tohurtthem to be good.

But I moan as I bite into the bacon-wrapped bourbon and brown sugar-glazed shrimp. Yep, as expected,this oneis the one I like best. I mean…bacon. But also, this is the first one that doesn’t feel like Bruce is using it to try to kill me.