Page 8 of Yours, Forever

He turned to Ale. "I need to discuss confidential things with Eva. They're legally sensitive. My wife and I need privacy."

"Are we really married? Legally?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Fuck."

"How?!" My friend still stood by the food display, ignoring Max's request for privacy.

He gazed at Ale, silently insisting that she should leave us.

"Don't go, Ale, please," I asked.

"What we need to discuss is sensitive legal material…" Max tried again.

"I won't go if Eva doesn't want me to." My friend crossed her arms again. "And Daniel is on his way."

"I suppose we can work with that." Max took out his phone and typed away. "I'm messaging my lawyers. They'll send you an NDA you can sign electronically."

"Lawyers? NDAs?" I croaked. "What was I thinking?"

Max stood and offered me a hand. "Come on. I'll explain everything."

I ground my teeth, but I took his hand and let him walk me to the sofa. I rested my elbows on my knees and my head inmy hands, and massaged my scalp with cold fingertips. Ale gave Max her and Daniel's email addresses.

Silence filled the coffee shop, heavy and on hold.

A short time later, Daniel came in. "What the hell happened and why did I just receive an NDA in my inbox?"

A few people gathered outside and peeked in. Great, everyone in town would learn of this by the end of dinner time.

"Hello." Max offered Daniel his hand, his charming smile back in place. "You must be Daniel. I am Maximiliano Errázuriz, Eva's brand new husband. If you're her friend, you should call me Max, too. I'd prefer to be on good terms with my wife's inner circle."

Daniel ignored Max's hand and frowned. Mybrand new husbandseemed to take it in stride, easily returning to his casual hand-in-pockets stance.

Daniel shot an accusatory glare in Max's direction. "Is the ridiculously expensive, black, fancy sports car parked at the end of the block yours?"

"Yes. Why?" A flutter in Max's pocket betrayed his fingers tapping against his thigh.

"It stands out like a sore thumb, and it's not a smart choice for this corner of the world."

"Right. I'm open to suggestions."

"Why? Are you sticking around?" Daniel squinted.

"Of course. We're married." Max slanted his head in my direction. "That's how it usually goes."

I shook my head. "This can't be. It can't be legally sound."

"It is, honey."

I glared again in his direction.

"Right," he said. "Well, if you want an explanation, then I need your friends to sign their NDAs."

Daniel scoffed and acknowledged me and Ale, to whom he gave a quick kiss hello. They sat next to me on the sofa and readfrom their phones; Max stepped away from us and inspected the darkening town square in front of us.

He waved at the onlookers. They waved back and finally scattered away. Daniel and Ale whispered and discussed the documents, while I sat and stared without seeing.