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Meeting my future in-laws went about as well as I expected. They were nice to my face, but there was an underlying current that made it painfully obvious they didn’t want me there.
I had never been so insecure in my fucking life. I should have been in the middle of the days I’d look back on as an old man and cherish. These should have been the best days of my life, but I was laying there staring at the ceiling while my world imploded around me.
Slipping Em’s arm off me, I scooted to the edge of the bed. I didn’t have to go far. The three of us were so sardined on there, I was surprised I had any feeling left on my right side at all.
I needed to go to the lake and sit by it while everyone else was asleep, so I could get these thoughts under control.
Opening the door softly, I snuck into the hallway and froze. There were voices coming from the family room. Tiptoeing closer, I realized it was Nina and Alicia.
“Not to mention the abuse. Professional athletes are so violent.” That was Rachel.
“He’s going to hurt them.” And that was Collin.
Were they really up, discussing the three of us while they thought we were sleeping?
I rounded the corner and enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing them all jump.
“Don’t worry. I’m not violent.” I took a seat on the couch, right between Nina and Rachel.
Spreading wide, I took up as much room as I could.
I was tired of their shit and I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Your daughter—” I looked at the Averys. “And your son—” I looked at the Bardots. “Are the loves of my life. We’re getting married and you better wrap your heads around it because I’m going to be in their lives ‘til death do us part.”
Alicia smirked. “We’ll happily support our children marrying each other. In fact, Em and Bash make a lot of sense now that we’ve had some time to get used to the idea.”
I heard what she was saying loud and clear. Em and Bash were the real couple in their minds. I would always be an outsider.
“I’m not going to hurt them.”
Rachel’s face fell and for a moment, I thought she would be in my corner. One of them had to see that this wasn’t some fad. The three of us were committed to each other for life.
“You were all so nice to my face today. Was that just an act?”
Alicia snorted. “Stay away from our kids.”
All of them got to their feet, like some creepy, centrally controlled amoeba. Without so much as a goodbye, they dispersed to their rooms.
And I was alone with my thoughts again.
Chapter Nineteen
Sebastian
“Read the note again,” Em said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“I found some reception at the end of the road and called a car to get me. I’m going to head home to unwind for a few days before the retreat and give your families time alone with just the two of you. All my love, Mac.”
Em sniffed, and I looked up, startled by what I saw. I thought she’d be crying, but her eyes were dry and narrowed. She was preparing for battle. Squaring her shoulders, she inhaled hard and put her hand on the doorknob. “Coming?”
I scrambled to my feet and followed her. “What are you going to say?”
She shrugged and threw the door open. “Whatever comes out of my mouth.”
“Good morning,” Jason said as we marched to the kitchen.
His face fell when he saw his daughter’s expression.
