Chapter 1 #2
“I can’t move into that house without a husband.
” I couldn’t move in unless I was married.
The house, the wedding, the new jobs, they were all part of my and Elijah’s plan.
I rocked back and forth. “I can’t afford more than a night or two at a hotel.
” That bastard! How quickly could I cash in some retirement?
We’d maxed out my credit card with all the work parties Elijah insisted would further his career.
“I have no place to live. I’ll have no job.
” My stomach flopped and heaved. I pressed a hand to my belly, and tears sprang into my eyes. “And I’m pregnant.”
Silence fell around me. Mom’s hand stilled. Heaving sobs racked my body.
“Clover,” Violet said softly. “You know we’ll all help you.”
I shook my head. “I can’t couch surf while I’m having morning sickness.” I would’ve probably puked already if it was any earlier in the day. I had nothing in my gut, and the cash in my purse wouldn’t buy me food for long.
Mom hugged me to her. “It’ll be okay. We’ll think of something.”
“I detonated my old life, thinking I was starting a new one. How was it going to be okay?” And now I had a baby to think about—alone.
“There are too many of us here not to figure out a solution,” Mom said. “Sullivan, how are your parents doing? Do they know?”
Tension vibrated between us, and it wasn’t all from me. “They didn’t come.”
I whipped my head up. “But they—” I made a choking noise at the profound empathy in his gaze.
“They texted you, yes. They were buying Elijah time. I’m sorry, Clover,” he said quietly. “I didn’t know.”
Shock muzzled my outrage. “I knew they were awful people.”
Instead of arguing with me, Van dipped his head. “Yes.”
His agreement was the pop my emotional balloon needed. A haze filled my vision and my body. What was I going to do?
The next few hours went by in a fog. Violet tried to feed me.
My appetite was gone, but she got juice and soup into me, and that helped the queasiness.
My sister Poppy offered to hunt Elijah down in Cancun and lose him in the ocean.
My oldest brother, Alder, was looking at tickets for the manhunt.
My younger brother, Jasper, didn’t have his passport, and my youngest sister, Lily, sat with me.
My parents spoke in hushed whispers, discussing how to appeal to my aunt Linda. As the executor of the ridiculous trust my grandma left me and my siblings, she could give me the green light to stay in the house regardless. But Aunt Linda was a stickler.
Van stayed next to me. He didn’t bury himself in his phone, and he handled all the questions lobbed at him about his loser brother with solemn grace.
The few times I’d met Van, it was clear he was different from his family, but I hadn’t determined whether it was for better or worse.
How he acted today spoke volumes. And uncovered how much my fiancé—my ex—had lied.
It was well after bedtime. My siblings were yawning.
They were all married with kids, except for Jasper, but his rancher’s hours didn’t include a lot of late nights these days.
They were afraid to leave me, but I wasn’t the helpless girl Elijah claimed I was.
I could take care of myself. I would make sure of it.
“I need to get some rest.” My soft statement was somehow heard over the cacophony of my family.
One by one, they gave me a hug. My parents were the last, and Mom eyed Van, still sitting next to me.
“Can I talk to you privately?” Van asked me, his gaze earnest.
I let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t think I can handle another truth bomb.”
“I hope it’s something that’s helpful,” he replied.
I nodded at my parents. They didn’t need to coddle me anymore tonight. The shock had worn off, and I was exhausted. I needed rest, and in the morning, I could come up with a game plan. As if I’d get any rest.
Once we were alone, Van cleared his throat. Nervous tension rode across his shoulders.
A sudden urge to see proof, to hurt myself more, took over. “What was the picture?” Van tipped his head, and his hair fell across his face. I leaned over. One Wagner could hide from me, but not both. “You said he sent you a picture.”
“Yeah, I did,” he said begrudgingly. “I mentioned it in case you didn’t believe me. He sent two of them.”
Odd that I hadn’t thought to ask for proof. Had I been harboring suspicions that Elijah wasn’t my handsome prince? Had I known deep down he was a frog, but the years were ticking by, and I’d allowed it? “I’d like to see it now.”
Van held my gaze for a few moments before he produced his phone. His jaw went hard again when he pulled up the screen.
“What did he say?” I asked roughly, tipping my forehead to the text exchange.
“He said he hit the jackpot.”
That knife stabbed right into my chest, and I leaned close to Van to see. His clean linen scent washed over me, settling my upset stomach.
Elijah: When you’re in Vegas, find yourself a life like I did.
The first picture was of a handcuffed Elijah.
He was waving with the silver cuffs on, and his rakish grin was charming.
A dark police vehicle was behind him. The second picture was another of the man I thought I’d spend my life with, handcuffed again.
Only in this image, his pants were around his ankles, his dick was hard, and those same handcuffs were still on.
He was looking at the person holding the camera like she hung the moon. My heart twisted.
He had never looked at me like that.
I scooted all the way to the other side of the couch. No more pictures. “I thought he ran off with a young dancer or something.”
“I wasn’t sure if it was better for you to think that.”
“Don’t. Don’t lie to me like that again, please.”
Horror rippled through his face. “I won’t. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do.”
I nodded because I did understand, and as much as I wanted to lash out at Van, none of this was his fault. He could’ve left anytime.
“Apparently,” Van said, “he hit it off with the cop who arrested him for trespassing.”
Trespassing while finding a life away from me. My heart wrung itself out.
Van tucked his phone away like he sensed I felt better the farther away it was. “I gathered from the conversation that you need to be married in order to live in the house you planned to move to?”
“Yes.” I was hoarse. He pushed over a bottle of water.
I chugged it, thirstier than I imagined.
“Grandma was some sort of romantic and tied our inheritance into properties that we have to be married to get. To even live in.” I snorted and fought off the tears collecting in my eyes yet again.
“I guess it worked for all my other siblings. I thought I was going to be the oddball. I fell in love first and then got married instead of saying my vows just to get the place. Except for Violet, but she and Evander sort of— Never mind.”
If I rambled more, Van might understand why his brother ditched me. Maybe he already did. Who knew what Elijah had said about me?
“And you need a place to live to secure the job you got?” Van asked.
“Yes.” Hopelessness filled my chest. My new position paid well, and I could work from home. It would’ve been perfect if I had a home.
“And you need this place even more now that you’re pregnant?”
My siblings would all help, but they had homes and were growing their families. They didn’t need me underfoot, proving Elijah right one day at a time. It was getting hard to swallow. Hearing it echo in my head was somehow better than having him say it. “Yes.”
“What if I marry you?”
I blinked. “Hmm?”
“What if we get married?” His expression was a mix of nervousness and determination. “We get the house, you start your job, and I can build my business without my parents’ interference.”
“I’m… What? Are you serious?”
I came to Vegas to marry one brother. I couldn’t just marry the other one.