Page 8 of Forever King

It’s not healthy, but I can’t help but respect her for how much she cares about those kids. I just hope they and their parents, along with the administration, understand how lucky they are to have her teaching at that school.

“Tough day at work?” I ask, hoping it wasn’t too bad for her.

Kate doesn’t respond with more than a shrug. It may have been worse than I thought.

I walk behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, but she hurriedly spins out of my hold and walks into the bathroom. This isn’t like Kate. Even after her worst days at school, she always has let me comfort her.

Quickly, I think about what I may have done. Knowing Ava and Eden, they likely told her something about me I would have preferred she didn’t know. Damn Matthias and Marius! Anyone who thinks having older brothers who are bust asses isn’t a hassle has never met those two.

Then again, Salem joined them tonight too, so all bets are off because of Kellen. God only knows what he’s told her about me growing up.

Cautiously, I say to Kate who’s still in the bathroom, “Did you have a good time with your bridesmaids tonight?”

She answers with only one word. “Yeah.”

That didn’t help. I need to figure out what’s going on before this mushrooms into something bad.

“What’s wrong, baby? You didn’t answer when I asked if you had a rough day at work. Everything okay at school?”

Again, a one word answer. “Yeah.”

The door remains open, so I crane my neck to look in and see her staring at herself in the mirror. She looks as beautiful as always, and I want to tell her that, but something’s wrong. Kate isn’t acting like herself.

“How did the meeting with that boy’s parents go?”

She doesn’t look over at me when she answers, “Good.”

None of this is good. Damn! Why can’t my brothers keep their damn mouths closed? It’s probably something embarrassing. After all, Kellen, Marius, and Matthias love any chance they can to make me squirm.

I finally decide to just ask the obvious question. “Did I do something?” I quickly follow it up with, “Or did Ava, Eden, or Salem tell you something about me that my brothers shouldhave kept their mouths shut about but couldn’t because they’ve got big mouths?”

That makes her turn and look at me with a tiny smile. “Ronan, I’ve known you since high school. I don’t think there’s anything your brothers could tell those women that I don’t know.”

Feeling like things might be improving, I take a step and stop in the doorway. “I know, but I figure since it wasn’t school that made you unhappy, then maybe it was something that happened while you were out with them.”

Kate shakes her head and gives me another tiny smile. “It’s nothing, honey. I’m just tired. It was a long day.”

Okay. That’s not a bad thing. At least it’s something I can work with.

I step into the bathroom and lightly touch her on the shoulder. “I get that. Anything I can do to help?”

Again, she shakes her head. “I think I’m just going to relax for a little while. Maybe watch some TV. I’m okay, so no need to worry.”

Relief washes over me. With a chuckle, I say, “Good. I was starting to think my brothers had been shit talking about me and their girlfriends told you. I mean wives. Actually, I don’t know what to call them, if I’m being honest.”

Kate splashes some cold water on her face and turns toward me. “I call them the girls. You could say that.”

“I’m pretty sure if I start calling them girls, Eden or Ava are going to give me what for about being a sexist pig.”

My fiancée rolls her eyes before drying her hands on one of the pink hand towels she bought last week. “Women only hate when men who are sexist pigs call us girls, Ronan. Nobody who knows you, especially Ava and Eden, think that about you. If you don’t want to use girls, you could always say ladies and be safe, though.”

“Okay. So the ladies didn’t tell you something awful about me that made you have second thoughts about us getting married?”

Kate’s eyes grow big as her mouth falls open. “They couldn’t tell me anything about you that would make me feel that way, Ronan. It sounds like you think they don’t like you. If you believe that, trust me, you’re wrong. My bridesmaids all think you’re the perfect man for me.”

I take a step toward her so I’m standing only a few inches in front of her. She always seems so tiny when we’re close like this. Looking down into her eyes, I smile, loving how lucky I feel whenever she’s around.

“Well, that’s good. I’d hate to think someone is going to speak up when the priest says that part about if anyone thinks these two don’t belong together at the ceremony.”