Two Friends in Marriage

<p><strong>Evan Mok is getting married much to his family's surprise.</strong></p><p></p><p>Early in the pandemic my longtime friend Jane Yin and I made a pact: if we were both single on her thirty-third birthday we'd get engaged and plan a simple wedding. We were lonely envious of people who weren't isolated in apartments by themselves.</p><p></p><p>More than three years have passed and I'm ready. Even if I'm outgoing and optimistic on the outside I've given up on romantic love and it'll be nice to build a life with my friend. With both of our savings we can actually afford a house. Jane also longs to be part of a family and I can give her that. It sounds convenient and comfortable but we won't have a physical relationship.</p><p></p><p>It turns out that married life is just what I want it to be. We buy a place in the suburbs and eat dinner together every day. Neither of us is attracted to the other except...</p><p></p><p>Oh hell. I'm definitely starting to wish I could share a bed with Jane and my feelings are much more complicated than I expected. Unfortunately I doubt my serious perfect wife feels the same way and I don't want to screw up this marriage of convenience by revealing the truth.</p><p></p><p>But it's getting harder and harder to hide my desire.</p>