I get up from the sofa and shuffle towards the hall. Cal is yelling about something, and I need to know what.
“This is the lowest thing you have ever done, Father. And that’s hard to compare because you have been a fucking shitty parent almost my whole life.” Cal is panting, and my dad looks on the edge of punching him in the face.
“You will stop your fucking temper tantrum and listen to me! I am the boss in this family, and you will respect me,” he roars. I flinch at the aggression in his tone and take a step back. I don’t know what went down tonight, but it wasn’t good.
“You have been telling me to stay away for years. No contact, so why the fuck would I marry her?” I gasp and Cal looks over at me. He takes in my hurt face, and I watch as guilt fills his eyes.
“You will marry her because it is your birthright!” he growls and I back up until my legs hit the couch, shaking my head. This can’t be happening.
Patience
“Can you please come over?” I ask Ki as soon as he answers the phone. There is conversation behind him, and music is playing. I know he’s at a work function, but I need him right now. My world is imploding, and I just need him to hold me and tell me everything is going to be okay.
“I’m on my way,” he says, then hangs up. I sigh and throw my phone on the nightstand. I’m on the verge of a major panic attack, and I don’t want to be here right now. The moment I walked in the front door, my mom wrapped me in a tight hug. The fact that she’s known about this for years…I feel betrayed. I don’t understand why this was all one huge secret.
I move over to my bathroom and fill the tub then climb in. The blue satin I’m wrapped in is being ruined, but I don’t care. Tears fill my eyes and I let them fall, ruining my makeup.
I don’t know how long I sit here, but I finally stir when warm hands wrap around my shoulders, causing me to shiver. “You’re freezing, baby,” Ki coos softly, and pulls me from the water, then wraps a towel around me as he pulls off my dress. I don’t reply or move. I don’t even know if I’m awake right now. This is all a dream, right? I’m going to wake up in the morning and this will just be a horrible nightmare.
A soft warm shirt falls over my head, and Ki places my arms in the holes. He’s dressing me as if I’m some precious doll to him, and I start to cry again.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay, baby girl. I have you,” Ki comforts me, and when I finally come too, I’m wrapped in my bed with my head on his chest as he holds me.
“How long?” I croak and he sighs, squeezing me tighter.
“Last year your grandpa pulled me aside. I guess he noticed how I looked at you or something. He told me that not only was it immoral, since we are family… it was pointless because you belonged to someone else. I laughed, but I guess my dad overheard our conversation and confirmed it.” I sit up and look at him, but he’s staring at my window. Nate’s lights are off.
“That was the weekend you yelled at me, and told me we couldn’t hang out anymore,” I say, nodding. I remember that. He broke my heart. We hadn’t done anything yet, since I was under-aged, but he would take me to movies and lunch sometimes. He was my best friend.
His chest vibrates with his groan and he turns to me.
“Yeah, after I saw how much pushing you away was hurting you… I said, fuck it, and decided even if I couldn’t have you forever, I could make every moment we shared special. I didn’t expect you to kiss me, or to feel the same way, but… I know things are going to change, Pay, and I wish I could have given you a heads-up, but you know how your family is. I love you, Patience James, but I knew that I had to stay alive to be able to keep you safe. Selfish, maybe, but it’s what I decided.”
I wipe a tear from my eye and lie back down, resting my head on his chest. “I love you, Kian. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you. I don’t care what happens next. You will always be in my life.” He sighs and kisses the top of my head, but he agrees, and for now, that’s good enough.
I will fight for him, and if he’s fighting for me too, then I know everything will work out.
Cal Reynolds, had better watch out because this bride is not some simp.
* * *
I leaveKi sleeping in my bed, and shut the door as I go looking for my mom. It’s time we had a chat. I find her in the kitchen, drinking a glass of wine. “Is Ki staying the night?” she asks me with a tired sigh. I nod and she turns to face me, pushing her wine glass to me. “You guys are being safe, right?” I choke on a sip of the alcohol and cough for a few seconds as she rolls her eyes and laughs.
“Seriously, Patience, you guys are as subtle as you working at a BDSM club.” My eyes widen, and the air freezes in my lungs, as she stands, going over to the cabinet to get another glass, before pouring herself a healthy serving. It seems this talk includes her getting drunk.
“How long have you known?” I wave my hand around. “About everything, I guess.” She sits back down and faces me.
“I’ve known about you and Ki for a few months. He snuck out one morning, fixing his tie, passing me in the kitchen. He had a huge smile on his face, and he was oblivious to me sitting there, drinking my coffee. I mentioned it to Tae, and he confessed to knowing you guys were dating. I know it’s not ideal, but I honestly wasn't very surprised. Ki has never acted like a brother to you.” My cheeks are burning, and I know I’m blushing.
I did not expect to start our conversation this way, but I guess, now things are out in the open, I won’t have to sneak around when she’s home. Not that she’s here often. After I turned sixteen, they practically moved to a penthouse in the UK.
“As for your job… I had you followed. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I talked to your boss. Did you know that?” She looks at me curiously as I shake my head. “She told me what the club is about and that you were her best student. At first, I was going to ship you off somewhere, but she let me watch as you worked, and I had to admit, I could see you enjoyed it. You always did like whipping guys into shape. With your karate or whatever.” I snort and she laughs with me.
It’s true. I really do like bossing guys around. “You don’t think it’s wrong then?” I have to ask because for the first time in a long time, this is the nicest talk we've had. Leaning forward, she places a cool palm on my cheek.
“I may not understand or approve of things, Patience, but you are my daughter, and I love you. You haven’t had the best childhood, and you had to grow up quickly. Yes, you are young, but you matured early on. Practically raising yourself. If this makes you happy, or helps you relieve stress… It’s better than learning my daughter is addicted to drugs or something.
“As for Ki, you know that has to end now, right? If your grandfather even got a whiff of you guys being together, he would flip his top, and that’s not a good thing. I know you don’t approve of marrying the Reynolds boy, but you loved him once, Patience. You can learn to love him again, and be happy.”