Page 6 of Not His Bride

“Why didn’t I know any of this?” he asks.

I shrug. “You never asked. No one does, honestly.”

That quiets him. I turn back to the mirror and touch one of the curls Heather pinned beside my temple. Wanting to grab another pin, I open my clutch. The edge of my black Phantom mask sticks out between my phone and lipstick. Gallagher reaches for it first.

“A mask?”

My stomach does an ugly little flip. Great, another one of my secrets Gallagher gets to uncover before we’re even married.

“Give me that.”

He pulls out the little black Phantom mask before I can stop him.

It’s cheap plastic, scratched along one edge, with an elastic strap that’s probably going to snap if anyone tries to wear it.

Gallagher looks between it and me.

“You carry a Phantom mask in your purse?”

“It isn’t normally in there.” I grab for it, but he lifts it out of reach.

He’s smiling now. “I need an explanation.”

I fold my arms and consider refusing based on the look on his face. He’s enjoying this way too much.

“My parents took us to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway when I was eleven.”

His smile changes.

“What?” I look at him.

“How old?”

“Eleven.”

“Majestic Theatre?”

I narrow my eyes. “Obviously.”

Gallagher slowly lowers the mask.

“My mother took me when I was twelve.”

My heart gives one stupid little kick. Of all the things I expected to learn about Gallagher Cortez before marrying him, this wasn’t one of them.

“You liked it?”

“Liked it?” He looks offended. “I made her buy me the cast recording before we left the theater.”

I laugh. “So did I.”

“I listened to it for six months.”

“I listened to it for two years.”

“That’s excessive.”

Something about that makes me absurdly happy. I’m still smiling when I reach over and take the mask from him. This time he lets me. I slip it back into my clutch.