Unless…
Rhys likes surprises.
Loves them actually.
If I can let him think I have something planned that’s wedding-oriented, it should put him off the scent.
Do I actually have anything planned as a surprise, even a wedding gift?
Well, no.
Rhys and I generally skip that sort of thing, presents and gifts…
I make a face at the thought of it as I drive.
Both of us have everything we need, and can well afford anything we want.
Except maybe one thing for me, until recently.
Being there as best man, for a fellow marine whenever he needs it.
That’s my gift.
It’s also why I felt so weird ghosting him when he called earlier.
Never one to shy away from tricky situations, I bring up his number as I drive and hit ‘call’.
It almost rings out, but Rhys answers at the last second.
“Hey champ, I almost sent out a search party for ya,” he answers cheerfully.
First red flag. Although he could just be happy about getting married.
I could make an excuse, but it would be a lie so I say nothing, not wanting to lie to my best friend.
“I was worried, man,” he adds, sounding more like Rhys.
“Well, I’m here now,” I practically grunt. But he’s unfazed by my mood.
“Another hard day?” he asks, reminding me to work smarter not harder again.
“You could say that,” I murmur, wondering why I called him in the first place knowing he’s got something of his own to rub in my face.
“How’s Piper working out? At the new job, I mean.”
Here it comes…
“Fine,” I tell him, deadpan, but smiling a little at the memory of her.
“Funny thing that,” Rhys says knowingly.
“I called your site office today to see how things were going with Piper… Nobody there had even heard of her and had no idea where you were either,” he adds, sounding genuinely puzzled.
As if he hasn’t given me enough rope already, I feel myself getting defensive again, but catch it in time.
“I can work anywhere, you know that. Piper was helping me from my office at home,” I explain casually. Making it out to be nothing.
“Ah, that would be it,” Rhys says cryptically. Telling me with his tone he’ll leave it there, but by no means forget about it.
“The reason I was calling is to ask about the rings,” he says, his tone shifting again, more serious this time when it’s about his wedding.
The rings.
Fuck, I totally forgot.
“I know it’s cutting it close, but I was gonna pick ‘em up tomorrow,” I bluff. Wondering just how it could have slipped my mind until I remember exactly.
Piper. That’s how.
Rhys makes a low grunt of his own, disappointed.
“It would’ve been better news to hear you’d picked ‘em up already,” he says in a strained voice, but making an effort to stay cheerful.
“Well, it is almost two days away. Maybe we can go pick ‘em up together?” he suggests.
More like an order than a suggestion as his voice gets a little deeper.
Still outranking me after all these years.
“Sure,” I nearly choke. Feeling not just tonight with Piper slipping away from me, but tomorrow too by the looks.
“Oh!” Rhys suddenly says. “That is if you haven’t got Piper working all day tomorrow,” he adds.
“Pretty sure her mom wouldn’t let her even if I asked,” I reply instantly, sounding as disinterested as I can.
“I’ve put Mitch in charge, he can sort things out for a while,” I add, maybe overdoing the casual replies.
“You haven’t planned anything outrageous like a bachelor party, I hope?” Rhys jokes, knowing I wouldn’t even know where to start with that.
“Uhh… If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise,” I tell him for effect, making his laugh sound genuine again.
“I think the girls have something planned anyway. Maybe we could just hang out. Like old times?” he suggests.
There is a definite tone of nostalgia in his voice that seems to cut through everything else.
“I’d like that,” I tell him truthfully, reluctantly accepting that Piper is out of bounds at least for now.
But she will be mine after the wedding.
MONDAY
I slept, but only to block the empty feeling, without Piper in our bed.
Up before the sun, I busy myself with everything I don’t have to think about to get done.
Shaving, showering. Tidying up.
Notes to myself. Lists of things to do before Rhys’s big day.
The beast in my mind howling a different tune though.
Making plans of its own.
Already devouring Piper and filling her with our own pack.
Two lone wolves who’ll never run by themselves again.
Ever.
I should have called her or at least texted her last night.
But if she feels anywhere near as excited as I am to have her alone again, I know it’ll break her heart to know we have to wait.
I’ll text her once the sun starts to rise.
Calling her would only ruin me, drive me to her and make a scene nobody needs right now.