If you choose links we provide, we may receive compensation.
InThe Big Loveauthor Sarah Dunns latest novel,The Arrangement,Lucy and Owen have a pretty happy marriage.
Still, something between them isnt quite what it used to be.
But will this arrangement really be the marriage cure-all they want?
Get a preview of Dunns hilarious, compulsively readable book in EWs exclusive excerpt, below.The Arrangementis available now.
Excerpt fromThe Arrangementby Sarah Dunn
You want the truth?
Lucy said, leaning against the avocado-colored kitchen cabinet.
Lucy and Owen had planned on installing new cabinets since the day they set eyes on the house.
Instead, theyd pretended for each other that theyd grown used to them.
Yes, Victoria said.
Ill only say if you will too.
Ill say, I dont mind, said Victoria.
She was dressing the salad while Lucy watched.
Thats a good number, said Lucy.
I feel pretty happy with it, said Victoria.
Lucy pointed both of her thumbs at herself and announced, Twenty-seven.
I was a bit promiscuous.
In college, said Lucy.
Dont slut-shame me, said Lucy.
What about you, Owen?
How many women did you sleep with before you met dear Lucy here.
I dont know, said Owen, getting to his feet with two bottles of Ridge Zinfandel.
Nope, said Owen.
It was a lot, said Lucy.
Yeah, said Victoria.
I think Ill start the coals.
Im not sure its safe for you to be around fire, honey.
Great, said Victoria.
Now theyll both go up in flames.
Everyone loved Owens marinade.
God, men and their marinades, thought Lucy.
Im at the age when women start to go crazy, said Victoria.
My girlfriends are all going nuts.
If their husbands knew half of what was going on, their heads would never stop spinning.
I cant tell you.
This is a secret all of us are keeping from all of you.
Give us one example, said Owen.
Okay, I have a friend, who I will not name, who is married,
said Victoria.
And she makes out with people.
What do you mean?
Like at a bar, shell make out with someone, said Victoria.
She does it at least once a week.
Who goes to bars?
Who has time for things like that?
She makes the time, said Victoria.
Do I know her?
I cant tell you.
That means I know her.
Perfect Jen makes out with strangersat bars?
Who is Perfect Jen?
This annoying mother I used to know when Wyatt was little, explained Lucy.
This semi-normal woman is, in fact, like a grenade with the pin pulled out.
Do you think shed make out with me?
Men are like, My work here is done.
Then its too late for us, Lucy said to Victoria.
But not for us!
Thom said to Owen.
Owen opened another bottle of wine.
There was no coffee served that night.
Nobody asked for it, and Lucy didnt offer any.
Caffeine seemed altogether beside the point.
Suppose I found out that Thom cheated on me on a business trip, Victoria said.
He had a one-night stand, met some- one at his hotel bar and slept with her.
Im not arguing with you, said Owen.
Marriage is about kids, says Thom.
Its about having kids and raising them together and not leaving them no matter what.
He gestured toward his wife.
Yeah, but Im not sure marriage should be like dating, said Lucy.
Where youre always looking for someone to hook up with.
Not looking for it, necessarily.
Just, not having to shut it down if it happens, said Victoria.
Being able to feel like a sexual person walking through the world again.
Its almost over for us, Lucy, Victoria said.
Its like someone flips a switch.
Thats really depressing, said Lucy.
Its true, said Victoria.
And let me tell you, you dont bounce back from that one overnight.
You stop thinking youve got all the time in the world pretty quick.
Theyre frogs, said Lucy.
They croak until they find a mate for the night, and then they shut up, explained Owen.
I cant believe you live someplace that has frogs, said Victoria.
We also have chickens, said Lucy.
I saw your chickens on Facebook, Victoria said.
I refuse to
discuss them.
You have gone full-onGreen Acreson me and Im not sure how much longer we can be friends.
Ill send you home with some eggs, said Lucy.
I wont take them.
That would only encourage you.
And Thom needs something.
Were both tired of this persistent, I dont know .
low-grade dissatisfaction with life, I guess, Victoria said.
Do you know how often we have sex?
Notnevernever, said Victoria.
But it might as well be never.
And the weird thing is, were both fine with it, said Thom.
Thats the scariest part.
This is officially the strangest conversation that has ever taken place on our deck, said Owen.
I dont get it, said Lucy.
Do you still love each other?
Of course we do.
Then why are you even talking about this?
Let me attempt to explain, said Victoria.
She took a big, dramatic pause and then reached over and held on to Thoms hand.
I want to grow old with this man.
I love him, and he loves me.
Maybe its your hormones, Lucy said helpfully.
Maybe you need a patch or something.
Our therapist has ruled that out.
Youve talked about this with a therapist?
Hes a bit unconventional, but hes interested in finding ways to make long-term marriages work, said Thom.
Marriages where you dont have to disown a big part of yourself to get to stay in the relationship.
My father cheated on my mother for their entire marriage, said Victoria.
It completely destroyed her.
I dont want that for myself.
I dont want to give up all my power.
This is the way nobody gets hurt.
Not Victoria or me, not Flannery.
Has it started yet?
Do you guys both have other people on the side?
It hasnt started yet, Victoria said.
But were doing it.
We are, said Thom.
Wow, said Lucy.
Excerpted from THE ARRANGEMENT with permission of Little, Brown and Company, 2017 Sarah Dunn
