Chapter 19

Coleson

At this point in my life, I’m not surprised that the woman I chose to marry is the Knoxville Bears’ owner’s granddaughter.

My whole life has been a collection of What the fuck.

This moment included.

My eye is swollen shut, but I don’t have time to ice it.

Elliot McDavid has a mighty left hook, and I’m unsure how she got me twice. But with a split lip and a busted eye, there is no doubt she did. Oh, and she wants to castrate me, which is just awesome. I need to figure out some way to make her hate me less since I need her help. Especially since I have no clue what to do about Dan Davenport. I truly don’t want to hurt my wife, but now, I have to walk the straight and narrow more than ever. Until this is over. Then all I can hope for is an amicable parting.

And not the shitshow that my life has steadily become.

I’m on autopilot as I take each of her boxes to our shared home. She had moved everything down to the alley, leaving me to carry it all the rest of the way. It doesn’t take me long, and I don’t miss the way her sisters all go quiet each time I come back for a box. I’m sure they’re trying to talk her out of doing what we’re doing. Each time my eyes lock with hers, I give her a reassuring smile, but her returning smile doesn’t reach her eyes. I know she’s struggling. She has been since Elliot and Davenport cornered us.

I’ve gone over the whole exchange more times than it’s healthy to. Each time, a new question arises, but I don’t know how to ask my wife about it. She’s done so much for me, risked more than she should have to—and I want more? That’s not right, nor fair.

Still, what did Elliot mean when she said that they would have to put my wife back together again after this was over. Had someone broken her heart? I could have sworn she claimed that wasn’t true. That she hadn’t been with anyone in a serious manner. It doesn’t matter, though. I’m not owed her past and definitely not her future. I get a year.

Why doesn’t that seem like enough?

Whoa.

I shake my head free of that insane thought and place her last three boxes by the rest. I jog down the stairs and look out at the coffeehouse. We’re packed for the evening rush, people hanging out, and some even working. I head to the counter where my manager Janie is filling an order. I lean on the counter, and she chances me a glance.

She arches her brows. “I’d hate to see the other guy.”

I cover my lip and nod. “It was a girl, and she got me good.”

“I want to meet this girl,” she laughs. “Is it the new wife?”

I shake my head before leaning on my palm. “No, her sister.”

Janie snorts, shaking her head at me. Janie has worked here since we both graduated high school. My dad loved her, and I do too. As a sister, of course. I told her that I got married, and she couldn’t believe it. No one could, really. But here I am, a married man. “You actually did it. I thought you were bullshitting.”

“Nope, real deal. Also, I’ll need your help training her. She’ll take over when I leave.”

Janie shakes her head once more, sorrow on her face. “Your dad is rolling over in his grave, knowing you’ll be leaving the coffeehouse in someone else’s hands.”

“I know,” I say sadly. “But it’s time for me to live for me. I want to follow my dreams. I chose a good wife to carry on the Katzes’ Drippy Drip legacy.”

She nods. “Yeah, I guess. I can’t wait to meet her since I never thought you’d settle down.”

I shrug. “It was bound to happen.”

“Sure,” she agrees, but it’s easy to see she has a lot to say. Since I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime today, I don’t ask a thing, and I head around the counter to quickly make a lotus tea for my wife. “But still, it’s a little mind-blowing, to say the least. You, married? After everything we watched our parents go through?”

“Yeah,” I agree, and I wish I could tell her the truth, but I need the story to stick. “She’s different.”

“I’m sure she is if she locked you down.”

Janie’s not wrong. Once I finish the drink, I nod to her. “Thanks.”

“Good luck,” she laughs, her eyes knowing.

“None needed. She’s a good girl. I’m not worried in the slightest.”

She scoffs, brushing her blond hair off her shoulder. “Sure you’re not.”

I ignore that and head out the back, down the alley toward the bookshop. I’m not worried. I know how this is going to go. I’ll do everything to make it easy for Eliza. I’ll make sure she’s happy, and I won’t hurt her. As long as I remember that and focus on my career, I’m good. Everything will be great.

I’m halfway down the alley when I hear footsteps. I look up to find my wife walking toward me. Her face is red, and her eyes are full of tears. My stomach drops as I take her in. My brows furrow, my heart speeds up, and I pick up my pace to get to her.

“What’s wrong?” I demand, and she shakes her head, wiping her thumbs along her cheeks.

“It’s nothing.”

“Did they hurt you?” I reach out, unable to resist. I snake my arm around her waist and bring her to me, her chest pressing into my gut as I look down at her. A sob leaves her lips, her greenish eyes swimming with tears.

“What?”

“Did they lay hands on you?”

She gawks at me. “Coleson, no. Apparently Elliot only wants to hit you.”

I ignore that. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She hiccups, and then her eyes settle on the drink I made her. “Is that for me?”

I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips. I bring the straw to her mouth, heat gathering in my gut as she wraps her sweet lips around it and takes a long sip. Her lips smack as she pulls away, and then she exhales. Her eyes are still flooded with tears, and when they spill over, my heart clenches in my chest. Before I can wipe them away, she does it, and I ask, “What happened?”

She shrugs. “My sisters are being difficult, and I just feel like shit. I don’t want them to be upset with me or think badly of you, but they are doing both. Everyone is blaming you, and I don’t like that. I am just as much a part of this as you are.”

God, I adore her strength and her protectiveness of me. “You don’t have to care what they think or even let them bother you. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I only care what you think.”

No clue when that happened, but saying it only makes it truer. I care what she thinks. Her eyes meet mine as the tears stream down her face. “But I care.”

“I know,” I whisper, my heart in my throat. Her tears are affecting me in ways I’ve never experienced, and I don’t get why. They hurt me, and they feel as if they’re my own tears, falling down my cheeks. Which is fucking weird and truly concerning, but I can worry about that later. “They’re upset because you’re too good for me.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” she stresses, her eyes holding mine. “And I am fully capable of making that assumption.”

“I know.”

She looks up at me again. “I’m sorry for today.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I should have told you that Dan was my grandfather, I thought you knew and that’s why you chose me. It helps that you’re married to your owner’s granddaughter.”

“I hadn’t even considered that, but it’s fine. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have asked you if I had known.”

“No?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, holding her gaze. When she gives me a watery smile, that changes.

I would choose her over and over.

No matter the circumstances.

Not wanting to think or voice that, I bring her straw to her lips once more, enjoying the way they take the straw before she sips the tea into her mouth. I don’t allow myself to do what I truly want, replace the straw with my cock. Instead, I tug her into my side and guide her toward her new home.

Before I say or do something I won’t be able to take back.