“The man I’ve loved in secret is finally mine. Even if this is just a dream, I hope it never ends.”

My thumb slipped.

I liked it.

I didn’t even realize I was crying.

Less than a minute later, my phone started blowing up. His name flashing over and over like it was screaming at me.

I answered.

“Lesley, don’t hang up,” he said fast, rough. “Please. Just listen.”

I didn’t say anything.

“I know what you saw,” he kept going. “It’s not what you think. I swear. She said she’d be your donor. Bone marrow. She said she’d do it. But only if I gave her a chance. One month, I will act as her husband. Just one. I didn’t touch her. I didn’t cross the line. I only did it for you. Everything I did was for you.”

My throat hurt when I tried to talk. “Fredrinn… is that true?”

“Yes,” he said too fast. Then quieter. “You’re my wife. You’re my life. You know that. I can’t lose you. I won’t live through it.”

I laughed, but it came out broken. “Then why does it feel like you didn’t hate saying yes?”

He didn’t answer. I could hear him breathing.

That was worse.