The Langfield Brothers : Box Set

by Brittanee Nicole

“Oh, fake marriage! That’s one of my favorite tropes,”

I’m not used to having a man in our space. I’m not used to having the help of a man, period.

“Your ex was an ass. I am your husband now. Don’t thank me for treating you the way you deserve to be treated.”

Without letting her go, I study the way she’s folding in on herself, as if trying to take up less space with every second that passes. Believing that if she makes herself smaller, she’ll somehow blend. She hasn’t realized that she’s the only one who takes up any space in my head. Her. Not some made-up version of her, but the very real woman who’s currently shrinking beneath my touch.

“You’ve always had my attention,” I whisper against her. “This is just the first time you’ve noticed, because you’re finally looking back.”

“Listen, I need smut. I don’t have a man.”

“Honestly, I think what she really needs, if you care like I think you do…” She lets the words linger like that between us. “Anything,” I say without hesitation. I’m all in. “Tell me what to do. I’ll do it.” “Show up. Get in the car and go to Bristol and show up. Not just for Liv, but for her kids. If you care about her like I think you do, that’s what she needs. Someone to choose her family. To just freaking show up.”

where we got married, and he’ll probably want sex. It’s not that I don’t want to have sex with him—come on, this is Beckett Langfield. The man is like porn in a suit with a god complex. The sex will be incredible. But I’m not porn in a suit; I’m more like cheesecake—and not a delicate slice. I’m the round kind with lots of filling. God, why do I always compare myself to food? Although, cheesecake does sound delicious.

“I was always looking. And I always liked what I saw.”

“That’s the second time you’ve called me that.” Breathless, I blink at him. “What?” “Baby. You called me baby, Livy. You falling for your husband?” Pressing my lips together and looking away, I push against him, but he refuses to let go. He holds me right there, with his fingers inside me, and uses his free hand to tilt my chin so I’m forced to look at him. “Tell me you’re falling for your husband… please?” His expression is so earnest. The desire to be desired is a concept I understand well. But even if I didn’t, I’m no liar. All I can tell him is the truth. “Yeah… my husband is definitely growing on me.”

“My heart beats for you, Livy. I’m fucking crazy about you.”

Is it normal? Is this how it feels to be comfortable in a relationship? Secure? To be cherished? Surely, it’ll get old eventually. He’ll tire of me. This can’t last. But God, do I want it too.

“People who matter and who care about you will always be ridiculous for you. Remember that,

Liv’s face morphs into the most glorious smile, and she lets out one of her rare laughs. I catch them here and there when I’m lucky, but this one is by far the most beautiful, because it’s directed at me. It’s because of me. And fuck, I want all her laughs. All her smiles.

Dedication To joy. Because life is too short to not go after what you want. And I want to smile while I do that. And to goalie thighs. Definitely something to smile about.

It’s a silly personality flaw of mine. I want to be liked.

‘If he wanted to, he would.’”

“Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. It wasn’t a choice. It wasn’t calculated. It took absolutely zero thought or effort on my part. Because you’re you. The sweetheart who made me smile and reminded me that I still had a whole lot of life to live. You make me want to live a thousand more years, and you make me feel far younger than my knees would have you believe.”

“It was a mistake walking away. Letting you believe that you alone aren’t enough. Because you are everything, Millie.”

Then, with her gaze locked on mine, I tell her the truth. “Never have I ever gotten over you.”

But I want to create a life that’s right for me. A kind of life that makes me worth it.”

Once again, she’s stealing my breath. I’d gladly give her my last one. In fact, that’s just another dream of mine.

Do you know how rare it is to have an emotionally checked-in husband? To have someone who is willing to talk about their feelings, who sees a therapist, takes medication when needed, who doesn’t hide from their problems? You are the reason I know that if we did have kids, our children would be the luckiest. They’d understand their emotions. They’d be comfortable showing them.”