Chapter 8 - Lucas
I stared at the rings, unsure of which one to buy. I didn't know jewelry, but I did know that girls were particular about what type they wore—or at least the women I'd been around.
Wendy looked at the rings, making a face. "Do you know if she's a gold or silver girl?"
I scowled. "Considering this is a fake marriage, and I hardly know her, I would say I don't know which."
Wendy rolled her eyes at me. "I still can't believe you are marrying her."
"Fake," I said back, making sure to be clear about it. Though my wolf growled, disliking the entire idea.
"Fake or not, you are marrying her for real. So, you might as well give her a ring worth wearing. What about this one?" Wendy pointed at a silver ring, and I scowled. I didn't feel it was nice enough.
I knew it was wrong, but I figured if I spent enough on the ring, maybe it would make up for half the shit I did when I was younger. I wanted her to look stunned when she saw it, and I wanted it to shine on her finger, proving a point to Chris when he saw it.
"No."
Wendy scowled. "You've said no to half of the ones I've pointed at."
"Because they are all bad."
The seller across the counter made a noise, and Wendy elbowed me. I ignored him, not bothered.
"What about going another route?" Ashley spoke up from the other side of the store, lounging in a chair. She was pointing at some necklaces that were hung by the window.
"No, it's got to be a ring," I said. "And you're not helping. You've been sitting there since we got here."
Ashley shrugged. "I never said I would be helpful. I said I would come mostly just to witness you. Who knew you could get flustered."
"I'm not flustered," I grumbled, looking at the seller. Do you have anything else… I don't know more."
Wendy tapped her nails on the glass. "What exactly are you looking for?"
"I'll know it when I see it," I said, not even sure if that was true.
The seller moved, walking away, and Wendy turned to me. "So, what is it about her that made you decide this? Besides the fact, she's your mate."
"Yeah," Ashley piped in. "Detail. Because I was told you rejected her. Why offer to marry her now?"
I rolled my eyes. "She's just…" I didn't have words. I didn't really know why besides the fact it felt right. I wanted to make up for what I'd done and maybe get us somewhere besides where we were. "Because I want to."
Wendy made a face, and Ashley rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Lucas. For once, just give us a little emotion besides your cold exterior. Were you in love with her?"
"No," I said calmly. "I just know Gina hasn't had it easy, and I want to help. She deserves it. Our pack isn't… nice to small or weak people."
Wendy raised an eyebrow. "Weak?"
"She's the smallest wolf in the pack. Behind in everything. She shifted late, she is slow, her wolf is very timid, and she had no chance of winning any matches."
Ashley shrugged. "You don't have to be big to win a fight. Sometimes small gives you advantages."
"That's not how our pack looks at it," I said just as the seller came back holding a gold ring. It was in the teardrop diamond ring, with smaller diamonds going down the band. It was simple yet stunning.
"That's the one," I said, not even caring what the price was. I slid my card towards him and looked at Wendy. "She wants to settle down here, and I'm helping her."
"That's sweet and all," she said, waving a hand. "But have you thought about what happens after? If she's your mate, are you so sure you can just let her go?"
I wasn't, but a small part of me was hoping I wouldn't have to. I wasn't sure what I wanted, but I knew I wanted her to be happy. And maybe I could be a part of it.
After paying for the ring, I headed home and found Gina working from the couch in the living room. She was typing on her computer, her eyes glued to the screen. She didn't even look as I arrived.
I paused at the coffee table, seeing she had made a mess in the living room. I bite my tongue, half tempted to ask what the mess was about.
She finally looked up. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were here. I was working." She looked at the files and the folders scattered around the space. "I didn't have enough room in my bedroom."
"I got you a ring," I said, pulling the box out and placing it on the coffee table.
She stared at it for a second before she placed her computer aside and opened the lid. Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked back at me. "How much was this?"
I shrugged because I honestly didn't know. I hadn’t looked at the receipt.
"Does it fit?" I asked, "We can always have it resized."
She pulled the ring out, and it easily slid onto her finger. "It's a little big, but not by much." She moved her hand, her eyes glued to the ring now, and a small part of me felt proud. It looked good on her hand, and the gold complimented her skin tone.
There was a knock on the door, and Gina grabbed her computer. "Since we have some time before Chris gets here, maybe she should go over some details about how we go here."
I nodded and turned to the door. I opened it and froze. It was Chris. I hadn't seen him in a couple of years, but he looked the same. He was wearing a suit, his hair was combed back, and he smelled like cologne but not the good kind.
"Chris," I said, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were coming later tonight."
Chris smiled, showing teeth that were too white. His smile was smug, as if he knew right away that this was fake. "Well, I was ahead of schedule and figured I could stop by. I didn't think it would be a problem."
I looked over my shoulder, and Gina was staring at me with wide, bugged eyes. She quickly grabbed the ring box, frantically trying to find a spot to hide it. After a second, she threw it behind the TV stand. She then started to collect her folders and paper while trying to fix her hair.
I didn't think we really had a choice. If I didn't let him in, it looked like we were hiding something.
"Of course," I said, pulling the door open. "You're lucky we are both home. I’m usually at work now."
Chris stepped inside the apartment, and instantly, I could see how his eyes scanned the space. I didn't like it.
He grunted and looked at Gina. His eyes scanned her, looking for problems, but I saw his hand pause where the ring sat on her finger. Gina swallowed, looking nervous.
"I brought your check," he said, walking into the kitchen and looking around. It seems you followed Eddy's will, so the money is yours to use for what you like."
Gina moved with him, and I took a step behind her. Lucas looked around the kitchen and wandered into the living room where Gina's mess still was. Chris made another grunting noise.
"Interesting, I don't see any photos of you guys hanging up?"
"Lucas isn't much of a decorator," Gina said, trying to sound confident. I glared at her. What was wrong with how I decorated?
Lucas placed his briefcase on the coffee table and opened it. He slid out a check and placed it on the table.
Gina took a seat and then looked at me. "Lucas, could you grab me something to drink?"
I wasn't a fan of the idea of leaving her alone with Chris, but I gave her a soft smile and nodded. I stepped into the kitchen when I heard her grumble. "You were not supposed to be here until later! I told you we might not be home."
"You make it sound like it matters when I come here, Gina. If you two were really getting married, it wouldn't. So, what do you have on him? What does he owe you that made him agree to this? You must have something. You made him leave the room."
Gina growled. "Because you're a fucking prick!"
I stiffened, tempted to turn back and say something, but I couldn't. I grabbed a glass of water and walked back. Gina was writing her name on the check, and Chris's eyes snapped at me as I entered.
I sat down next to Gina and offered her the water. She took a long swig of it before setting it on the coffee table.
"So, how did you two get together?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow at us.
I waited for Gina to answer since she seemed to be the one most concerned with details. Gina smiled at Chris. "He stopped resisting the urge to be with me. We ran into each other a year back and decided to talk."
I internally scowled.
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Talked? That doesn't sound like Lucas. Lucas fucks. He doesn't talk."
Gina's face went red, and she swallowed. "Yeah, well, I don't, so we talked."
Chris snorted and grabbed a few papers from his briefcase. "Clearly, which begs another question. Why has no one spoken about this? I feel everyone would be gossiping."
"The engagement is still new," she said, waving her ringed finger. "I haven't even gotten it resized yet."
“If the engagement is new, why have a wedding so fast?”
“Why wait,” Gina quickly added. “We’ve waited so long already.”
Chris looked at me. "Your folks haven't heard about it. I spoke with them the other day."
I smirked. "My folks don't even know where I live, much less what really goes on in my life. I still have yet to tell them."
"Still, I feel people would know about it." He looked at Gina, and I could see the smirk in his eyes. He wasn't believing this.
I hooked Gina's legs and swung them over mine. I then wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against my chest. To my surprise, Gina didn't stiffen up; if anything, she sank against me.
Chris watched me for a moment before looking back towards his paperwork. "For the house to be given, the marriage has to actually happen. So, you can't get the deed for the house until you have a marriage license. Since the transfer of everything takes time, I can allow you to stay in the house until the marriage is official in a couple of months."
"Which we will do after the wedding," Gina said.
Chris scowled. "You can keep the key until then, but if I don't get a copy of the license the day after the wedding, I'll take the key back. If you are even a day late, I’m taking it as if you didn’t follow the rules. Eddy was a stickler, after all."
Gina scowled but nodded.
Chris slid her papers. "Sign here." He pointed.
Gina signed a few papers, and each time Chris yanked the paper away, I could see Gina's face growing hotter. I squeezed her thigh, knowing we were close to being done. He then pointed at a few places to sign, and I did.
"I hope you're prepared for all the work this is going to take," Chris said, taking the papers.
"We're aware of how much the house needs," Gina said, placing her hand on mine. "We're ready."
Chris smirked. "I wasn't talking about the house."
I could see the color leaving Gina's face at the insult, and my anger boiled up. I'd had enough. I ground my teeth together and looked at Gina. "I'm going to show him out. How about you start lunch?" I cupped her face and leaned forward, kissing her, but I didn't softly kiss her either.
No, I popped her lower lip open and devoured her. Gina made a moaning sound, and I could feel her hands grabbing at my shirt. I cupped the back of her head, holding her against me for a good twenty seconds before I leaned back, pressing a soft kiss on her nose. I then unhooked her legs and pulled myself up. I glared at Chris angrily, who took a step back towards the door.
I walked behind him, grabbed the door, and spoke as he stepped outside. "And Chris, if you ever come to my house and talk that way to her." I smiled at him, leaning forward. "I'll fucking rip your throat out. I may have left the pack and all that cutthroat shit behind but don't think I've gone soft since I've left."
Chris' eyes widened, and I slammed the door shut.