Is this what makes him afraid? Is he afraid that someone else will leave him? The last people who loved him whole died—his parents. Is he afraid I will do the same?
Both of my hands cup his face, I pull him close so we are inches apart. “You and me, forever.”
“Forever,” he whispers back to me then picks me up, dress and all, so I have no choice but to hang over his arms.
A knock sounds but he doesn’t break the kiss. My father’s voice calls my name, and I push Gunner back knowing my perfect lipstick will now be smudged. He wipes at my lips with the base of his thumb.
“Coming,” I announce.
“Tonight, you will be,” he whispers as he places me down and I go to open the door, but he pulls me back. “Stay by my side all night.”
I smile and nod, pulling him with me as I open the door to find my parents waiting for me. They both smile.
“I want to give you your present now.” My father hands me a letter, and when I open it, I see the deed to my shop. I now own it outright. No loan to pay back, and even the ground that it’s on is now mine.
I let go of my husband and wrap my hands around my father’s shoulders. “Thank you,” I whisper as he taps my back.
“You’re welcome, angel.” He used to call me that as a child. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that endearment. Stepping away and back to my husband’s side, my father also hands Gunner a letter. I attempt to look at it, but he slides it into his back pocket, nodding once to my father.
“Welcome to the family, Gunner. We look forward to knowing more about the man you’ve become,” my father says as my mother clings to his side.
“Dinner’s ready and your guests are waiting.”
“We will be right out,” Gunner says dismissing my parents.
They nod and walk away leaving us standing there.
Turning to face him, he isn’t happy. His whole demeanor is mixed with anger.
“What’s wrong?”
He looks to my hand and the deed I now hold. “I don’t want you working.”
I laugh at him. “You’re joking, right? Tell me you are joking.”
Gunner doesn’t say a word nor shake his head, he simply stares at me.
“I took a month off for you, that’s all you will get. I love my job, I worked hard to get my café where it is, and I will not sacrifice it.”
He touches my face softly. “You will, my wife.” Then he starts to walk out the door leaving me standing there stunned and confused.
I chase after him, pulling on his arm to make him stop. “I won’t. This is something I won’t give up.”
“We will discuss this later.”
“No, we won’t. This is not up for any sort of discussion.”
“I already have a buyer for it,” he says shocking me even more.
Someone taps on a mic out in the courtyard, and they say our names.
My feet are glued to the ground. “That won’t happen. It won’t happen,” I say shaking my head.
“Everly,” he says my name.
“Don’t you Everly me, you asshole. This isn’t a marriage where you dictate every damn thing. Did you miss that part of the contract where it states we are a team?”
He’s angry now and leans forward so he’s breathing on me. “Don’t you fuck me off, wife. You won’t like the outcome.”
“Fuck you!” I spit at him.
Our names are called again.
We both turn as people begin to look our way. I go to turn away, but his strong hand reaches for me, pulling me to his side as he yanks me through the doors and into the courtyard where everyone’s standing waiting to greet us.
When we reach our table, May gives me a puzzled look, and as I go to speak to her, he pulls me back so I’m glued to his side.
“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Reid.”
Everyone claps and neither of us smile. I spot Alec out at one of the tables drinking. He tips his glass to me and I offer him a small smile.
Gunner notices and grips me tighter, so tight it hurts me. “Stay away from him, Everly.”
“Fuck you, Gunner!” He huffs and doesn’t let go. “You’re hurting me, let me fucking go.”
Of course, he doesn’t.
What a wedding day.
21
Your wedding day is meant to be the happiest day of your life, and it started out that way. It was magical until it wasn’t. I made him promises I cannot break, not because I’m afraid of him, but because I don’t break promises. No one in our family does. It’s all about family honor. We abide by our promises like they’re a contract. It’s simply who we are as a family.
We sit there quietly through most of the serving of the food, and May looks at me every now and then, begging me with her eyes to tell her something, anything. But now is not the time. She isn’t his biggest fan, and if I told her he wanted me to quit work with no negotiation, she would for sure dislike him completely. And I need her. She is my someone, my person, the one I go to for almost everything. Just maybe not this. Not yet anyway.