Aiden is shameless about what he wants and isn’t above flipping the world the middle finger.
My stomach sinks when the caller ID doesn’t turn out to be Aiden.
Speak of the devil.
I swipe the screen. “Hey, Ronan.”
“Hey, fiancé.” His playful tone releases some of the dread perched on my chest.
“This isn’t the time to joke around.”
“Who says I’m joking? Father just said I’m getting married to you. I hit the jackpot! Think about the number of threesomes we’ll have, Ellie. Even Kimmy will be game to join if you’re my wife. Le paradis est juste ici.”
I narrow my eyes as if he can see me. “Why do you sound so happy?”
“Because I am! I’ve been imagining the look on King’s face when he finds out you’re my fiancé.” He hums. “You think I’ll be able to catch his expression on camera before he chops my head off with an axe?”
I smile despite myself. “Probably not.”
“I’ll ask Knight or Nash to film it, then. I’m leaving a legacy behind. Oh, and a fortune. You’ll be one of those lethally rich widows who dresses in black and has three black cats.”
I laugh, stopping near the corner. “You’re such a twat.”
“See? Marrying me won’t be so bad. We’ll have so much fun.”
“Be serious, Ronan.” I sigh. “Why don’t you tell your father you don’t want to get married?”
“I can’t tell my father anything. His word is law in this household.”
“So you’ll agree?”
“Already done. I’m an earl’s only child and heir, Ellie. It’s written in my birth certificate that I’ll have an arranged marriage. I’m lucky it’s with you and not with some snob that will suck the life out of my bones. You know how fucking scary that is?”
I pause, thinking about his point of view. I never thought Ronan would have these types of worries. He’s always so playful and carefree, no one sees the weight he carries on his shoulders.
“But I —”
“I know.” He cuts me off. “King, that lucky bastard, came first. Fucker. However, I’m not allowed to refuse the engagement from my side. You have to be the one to stab your sword straight to my virgin heart.”
“You’re such a dork.” I laugh.
“And you have such an awful taste in men,” Ronan mocks with an edge of drama. “Now if you excuse me, I
’m going to nurse my broken heart with some weed and a girl — or two.”
I hung up with a smile.
The smile falls when I realise that Ronan’s completely out and I have to be the one who ends this. I groan. Is there no other way aside from hurting Dad?
“Are you going to agree?”
I jump at Teal’s quiet voice. I didn’t even notice she was there.
“You know about it?” I ask.
“Agnus mentioned it.” She studies her black nails, not meeting my gaze. “Thirteen already agreed to marry you.”
Since that practice football game, Teal often calls the horsemen by their jersey’s numbers.