Page 198 of The Reason I Married Him
Laurel smirks as she looks back and forth between the two of us. “You guys are cute.”
“You think so?” I ask. “Not sure Aubree would say the same thing.”
“No, you’re cute. Annoying but cute.”
“That’s what I wanted his author bio to be,” Laurel says. “But he said he wanted to stay aloof with his readers, making them think that he’s a secret serial killer.”
Aubree eyes me. “Wyatt? A secret serial killer? I heard him scream when a bee chased him the other day.”
“Hey now,” I say as I nod toward Rhonda. “We have company over here. Can we act like it?”
Aubree chuckles. “How on earth did you deal with him for so long?”
Laurel shakes her head. “I think it’s a love-hate relationship. The annoyance is heavy, but the laughter outweighs it all.”
“Hmm, seems to be the spell he casts on everyone,” Aubree says as she looks up at me, and for a moment, a moment so small, it almost seems like she means that. Like I’ve cast a spell over her. If only. It would make these feelings I have for her so much easier to deal with.
“Hey,” Ryland calls from the farmhouse. “Mac wants to show you guys Chewy Charles’s bow tie. Can you converse in here?”
Chuckling, Aubree says, “Chewy Charles is Mac’s stuffed animal. He’s very important. If he licks you, it’s normal. Ifher fingers turn into spiders and crawl over you, also normal. There’s also Chewy Chonda. He’s the new horse Wyatt brought with him.”
“Okay, one question. Do I like the licking and the spiders?”
“Yes to the licking. Be scared of the spiders, but don’t try to hurt them.”
“Got it,” Laurel says while tapping the side of her head. “Did you hear that, Rhonda?”
“Loud and clear. Licking yes, spiders no.”
Chuckling, we all head up the stairs to the farmhouse and into the living room, where Mac sits on the couch with Chewy Charles next to her. Chewy Chonda, thankfully, is on the other side. Glad he’s still approved. A red bow tie has been fastened around Chewy Charles’s neck while Mac is wearing one of Ryland’s ties over a poofy white dress.
Dear God, if this is what it means to marry Aubree, then I’m all fucking in.
“I’m just goingto help them to their car. I’ll meet you in the house,” I say to Aubree, who offers a wave to Laurel and Rhonda.
Dinner consisted of the regular gathering, but this time with Laurel, Rhonda, Maggie, and Brody. Of course, when Hayes arrived, Laurel tried to play it cool but lost it when she heard he’s been working on new music. She sat next to him and asked him pretty much every question under the sun about his career. She then proceeded to apologize but then kept asking him. Hayes was the chill guy he always is and answered every single one.
Instead of having one of us cook, I had By the Slice deliver pizza and then topped everything off with Aubree’s favorite ice cream sundae. I caught the smile on her lips when she sawme set up the fixings for dessert, and I didn’t miss the way her shoulder brushed up against mine when she dug into her sundae.
The entire night, she let me hold her hand and drape my arm over her shoulders. She even sat on my lap for a while. I took advantage and held her when I had the chance. I even kissed her head a few times, and even briefly on the lips in the kitchen only to be caught red-handed by Mac, who screamed “ew” and ran away.
It felt real.
It felt like we were a true family, coming together the night before a small wedding.
It felt like Aubree belonged to me, like she was prepared and ready to give herself over to me.
And it made me feel this deep, guttural possession every time I looked at her. Like my brain was screaming, “Mine. Mine.”
I have no right to claim her like that, but it didn’t stop me from internally creating a moat around her, making sure no one could get to her besides me.
“Did you have a good night?” Laurel asks as we walk over to her SUV.
“Great night,” I say.
“Seemed like it,” Laurel says and then turns to Rhonda. “Think you could give us one moment?”
“Not a problem.” Rhonda quickly gives me a hug and wishes me luck for tomorrow and then hops in the car.
