14. King

14

KING

She didn't say no. That's what I have to keep reminding myself.

It's been two days since I last saw Haven. I've texted her every morning and every night, not to pressure her but just to connect with her. She's texted me back, but she's completely avoided the topic of marriage.

That day in her apartment keeps replaying in my head. How do I feel more from one hug than I've ever felt about anything else? I need to convince her to do this with me, but I'm not sure how.

"Spill it, King. Why did you bring us all here?"

My brothers bring me out of my thoughts. I invited them over to the house after we played our monthly tournament of pickleball. Gabriel won yet again, and as they've been talking smack, I've been lost in thought trying to figure out what I need to say.

My brothers Dominic and Gabriel are fighting over the last piece of pizza, and I laugh at their antics. When Dom comes up with the last piece, he takes a big bite and says, "Yeah, spill it, King. You got beat tonight, and I didn't get to enjoy it half as much because I don't even think you realized you lost."

I set my plate down and lean back in my chair. "I'm getting married," I blurt out.

They both start to talk at once.

"Married?"

"Don't do it."

"I knew something was up."

"To who?"

"When do we meet her?"

Thank goodness Holden is playing baseball down south because I really don't need him here telling the story of how Haven and I met. I try to answer their questions. "Yes, married. Her name is Haven Weston."

Gabe leans over and fist-bumps me. "When's the wedding? And when do we get to meet her? "

Shit. Here's the sticky part. "Well, she hasn't actually agreed to marry me yet."

Both their mouths drop open.

I hold my hands up. "I know, I know. Listen, I may as well tell you because Holden's not going to let me live this shit down." I go through how I met Haven, and I'm getting glares from the both of them. They don't like it. We were raised rough, and it brought out an honesty in all of us. We don't always do the right things, but I know what I did was low. "I fucked up big time. She says she forgives me, but so far, she's not agreeing to marry me."

Gabe throws his hands up. "Can you blame her? You lied to her."

I'm still ashamed of how I handled this. "I know…. But I'm going to make it right."

Gabe rubs at the scruff of his beard. "So explain it to me. Are you marrying her because you love her… or because you're trying to make this right?"

Love. Just hearing that word makes me want to sink into myself. What have I got from love? Nothing, and I'm not ready to open my heart to it just yet. "I'm not marrying her because I want to make it right… I'm marrying her because I can't st op thinking about her… because I want to have a family… a wife… a child."

Dom is shaking his head. "Well, I don't know many women that are going to get married without love, King."

I shrug my shoulders. "She knows the deal. I explained the contract to her."

"Fuck." Dom groans. "Really? You drew up a fuckin' contract? You really don't know anything about women, do you?"

"King!" Gabe exclaims. "Are you ever going to learn?"

I hold my hands up because I had hoped my brothers were going to be able to help me, but I should have known they were going to bust my balls over this. Maybe if Ledger was here, he would be on my side. He's even more strategic and less emotional than me. He would get it. He's retiring from the military soon, and I'm ready for him to come home. I've missed him.

Hell, even Holden would try to help. But these two are too busy telling me all the things I've done wrong instead of trying to give me any kind of tips on the matter. "Look, guys, you don't know her. She had a rough upbringing, and she's fine with this."

But even as I say the words, I wonder if I'm telling the truth. It sounds ridiculous saying it out loud, even to me. Wanting to change the subject, I pick up the empty beer bottles to take to the trash. "Forget it, guys. You'll meet her soon; I'll make sure of it."

"But—" Dom starts, but I interrupt him. "Forget it. I know I fucked up, and I'll figure out how to make it right."

I walk out of the living room and drop the bottles into the trash, and when I walk back in, Dom continues like I never left. He leans forward. "Well, the first thing you need to do is rip up the fuckin' contract."

"I had the contract written up so she'd know I would always take care of her when it ended."

Gabe smacks his hand to his head. "When it ended? You're not even married and you're planning for it to end?"

I sit up a little taller and try to keep my voice void of emotion. "Yeah, well, love doesn't last. We all know that."

They both just stare at me, not knowing what to say. I know it sounds shitty, but I've had a lifetime of sad endings, and I'm just trying to keep it real. Finally, the guys are speechless. I don't think they can argue with me on this .

"Let's change the subject. What do you guys know about the guy Chrissy's out with?"

Our foster sister is the youngest of all of us. We have all looked out for her through the years, and we're all pretty protective of her.

Gabe hits his hand on the table. "What the fuck? Chrissy's out on a date? I don't know anything about that."

Dominic shrugs. "I don't know. She won't tell me anything about him."

It's my turn to roll my eyes at them. "Well, no shit. Why would she tell you two anything? The last date she was on, you two crashed it and sat right behind them at the movies."

Gabriel gets up. "I don't like it. I'm going to check on her."

Before either Dom and I can say anything, Gabe is out the door. Dom looks at me. "What's that about?"

I start cleaning up the pizza boxes. "You know how he is about Chrissy. They've always been close."

Dom looks at the door Gabe just walked out of and then at me. "What are you going to do? About your future wife, I mean? "

"I'm going to convince her to say yes… There's no other option, Dom."

He stands up and crosses his arms over his chest. "I don't know, man. I know you don't know much about it, but the way you talk about her… the way you look when you talk about her… I think there's more to it than some kind of contract, fake marriage kind of bullshit you seem to claim it is."

I'm not going to argue with him because maybe, just maybe, he's right.