Chapter Twenty-One Man-to-Man
Christian
“C hristian! Christian! Where are you?”
At the sound of Haven’s excited cry, I jump up from the couch, where I’ve been lounging and watching the news. Before I can rush out of the living room to find her, she comes racing through the door with a wide smile on her face.
“What’s going on?”
Her eyes are wide as she takes a deep winded breath. “Garretts’s coming home early. He just called to let me know.”
My stomach twists, but I force a smile. I should be excited for Garrett to be coming home. I haven’t seen him since I moved here, but instead, I’m slammed with guilt. He has no idea about Haven and me, and I can’t imagine that he’s going to be thrilled that we got engaged without talking to him first.
There’s a mix of emotions in her eyes as she nods, placing her hands on her hips as another heavy breath escapes her.
“That’s a good thing… right?”
“Yeah… of course it is. I want to arrange a dinner to celebrate him coming home,” she declares. “What do you think?”
“It’s a fantastic idea,” I tell her. “Whatever you want to do. We can have it here, or make reservations somewhere. You just decide and let me know. I’ll arrange everything.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely,” I reply with a smile, trying to ease the obvious nervousness she feels. “We can do whatever you want.”
Walking towards me, she wraps her arms around me before placing her head against my chest. “Thank you… though I will admit I’m really nervous about him coming back.”
“I get that… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous as well. But we both knew it was coming sooner or later.”
“I know. I think I’m gonna head up to the hospital and tell Mom and Peter.” She grins up at me, her eyes softer than they were a minute ago. As much as I know this is bothering her, I don’t want her to worry about anything. It really should be me that tells him about all of this. He deserves to hear it from me, man-to-man. I don’t want Haven to have to worry about this on top of everything else she’s dealing with.
“All right.” I nod. “When exactly does your brother get home?”
“He’s supposed to get back Thursday night,” she explains, grimacing slightly. “So, three days.”
“Great… it’ll be so good to see him again.”
“I know, it’s just with everything going on…” she drifts off in her words, her eyes falling to the floor as she steps back. “It’s a lot.”
“Let’s not worry about that right now. Just go enjoy yourself with your mom, and we can talk about it all later.”
She nods, leaning up to kiss my cheek before grabbing her purse off the side table making her way towards the door.
As I watch her leave, I keep my smile in place until she’s completely out of sight. When I’m alone again, I release a long breath and shake my head. I need to talk to Garrett before anyone else can tell him what’s going on between me and Haven. If I can explain things to him man-to-man, maybe I can make him understand that I have every intention of taking care of Haven and won’t do anything to hurt her.
With any luck, we can work this out before he even talks to Haven… and I just pray he doesn’t try to kill me in the process.
***
Early Friday morning, I make my way to Garrett’s apartment. I realize, belatedly, that I probably should have called in case he had company, but when I arrive at his place, he opens the door, already dressed.
“Christian? What are you doing here so early?” he asks with a confused frown.
That’s a more loaded question than he realizes. I’ve been keeping an eye on his schedule so I could intercept him when he got back from the oil fields to tell him about Haven and me before he heard it from anyone else. Haven doesn’t even know I’m here. She’s still riding the high from her weekend in New York, and I don’t want to take that away from her just yet. It’s only been four days since she got back.
“I need to talk to you,” I say, stepping past him to get inside.
“Come on in,” he says furrowing his brow in obvious concern as he shuts the door. “Is everything okay?”
I turn to face him and suck in a deep breath. I just need to say it. Like ripping a bandaid off. Get it over with so we can start to move past this.
Unless he murders me, of course.
“Here’s the thing,” I begin, my heart racing as I force the words past my lips. “I’m going to marry your sister.”
His face goes blank. Eerily blank. I can’t tell what he’s thinking in any capacity.
Then he bellows, “You what ?”
“Hold on!” I say quickly before he can say or do anything else. “Let me explain!”
He’s seething as he glares at me. “What the hell are you talking about, Tallow?”
He only calls me by my last name when he’s upset with me.
“Garrett, let’s sit down. We need to talk this through,” I suggest, motioning toward the living room.
He reluctantly leads the way to his couch but doesn’t sit, instead pacing in front of me as I take a seat. I wait for him to settle, knowing I need to handle this carefully.
“Look, I should have told you sooner,” I begin, my voice steady despite the churn of anxiety. “Haven and I… we decided it made sense for a lot of reasons. It’s not just a spontaneous decision.”
Garrett stops pacing, turning to face me with a frown. “Made sense? Chris, she’s my sister, not some business deal you can arrange when it suits you. What are you talking about?”
I sigh, knowing this is the part where things could really go south if I’m not clear. “It started as an arrangement, yes, but… it’s not just that anymore. I care about Haven, deeply. The arrangement—it was initially to help both of us with different things. For me, it was about providing stability for Oliver. For Haven, it was about helping your mom feel at ease.”
His expression softens slightly, but he’s still wary as he stabs his fingers through his hair and pushes it back. “Stability for Oliver? You’re using my sister to make your family situation look better? And you’re lying to my dying mother about it?”
I shake my head quickly, scrubbing my hand over my mouth in agitation. “No, it’s not like that. It’s not about using anyone. Haven just wants your mom to be able to pass on peacefully and without worrying about her. At first, yeah, I wanted a way to secure custody of Oliver, and I still do, but, Garrett, I promise you, it’s evolved beyond that. What I feel for Haven—it’s real. This isn’t just some cold, calculated move. Not anymore.”
He looks away, his jaw clenched so hard, there’s a vein throbbing in his cheek. “I don’t know, man. This sounds… it sounds messy.”
“It’s complicated,” I admit, leaning forward, trying to convey my sincerity. “But I’m telling you, what I feel for Haven isn’t about the arrangement. It started that way, but it’s grown into something more. Something genuine.”
He finally sits down across from me, his features softening as he processes my words. “And Haven? How does she feel about all this?”
“She feels the same,” I reply confidently. “We’ve talked about it a lot. We wouldn’t be moving forward if we both didn’t feel something real here.”
He’s quiet, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of him, then meets my gaze. “I want to believe you, Chris, but this is my little sister. I need to know you’re in this for the right reasons.”
“I am,” I assure him. “I wouldn’t have gone this far if I weren’t serious about her.”
Garrett nods slowly, the initial anger fading to a cautious understanding. “Alright. I’ll trust you on this… for now. But Chris, if you hurt her, deal or no deal, arrangement or not, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“I understand,” I respond, feeling the weight of his words. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As the tension dissipates, he finally relaxes, leaning back against the sofa with a heavy sigh. “What’s the plan now? How are you two handling this?”
I scratch my chin thoughtfully, trying to find the right words. "We’re taking it one step at a time. Neither of us expected things to get this serious, but now that they have, we’re making it work. The wedding is happening soon, and Haven… she’s all in. So am I."
He studies me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You’re saying all the right things, man, but what happens after the wedding? Are you sure this isn’t just about making things look good for the court?"
The mention of the court reminds me of the bigger issue looming in the background, one I know Garrett’s going to bring up soon. I shift in my seat, leaning forward to meet his gaze.
"Look, at first, it was about that. I won’t lie. The arrangement made sense to stabilize things for Oliver, but it’s not just about the custody case anymore. Haven’s become someone I care about, Garrett. We’ve gotten closer in ways I didn’t expect, and I’m not just doing this for show."
He lets out a long breath, shaking his head like he’s trying to absorb everything. "And what about Theresa? How does she fit into all of this now? I can’t imagine she’s going to be celebrating the fact that you’re getting married."
I tense at the mention of her name. Theresa is still a part of this mess, and I need to be honest with Garrett about that too.
"Theresa knows," I admit. "She’s been difficult, as always. She’s trying to paint this picture that I’m using Haven to win custody, spreading rumors, making it harder than it needs to be. She’s making this custody battle personal, trying to get under my skin."
His brow furrows, his jaw tightening. "And does Haven know about that? That Theresa’s still running her mouth and making things harder for you two?"
"She knows," I reply. "Haven’s aware of everything. I’m not keeping anything from her when it comes to the situation with Theresa. It’s been messy, and it’s not going to get easier, but Haven’s strong. She’s standing by me through it all, and she is very protective of Oliver. She wants what’s best for him as well"
He takes a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t trust Theresa. Never did. The way she left, the way she’s treated you since—it’s always been about her, not about what’s best for Oliver. You need to be careful, Chris. She’s not going to stop pushing, and if she thinks Haven’s the weak link, she’s going to go after her."
The truth in his words hits me hard, but I refuse to let it shake me. "I know. I’m doing everything I can to protect Haven from Theresa’s games, and I won’t let her hurt Haven or use this against us. Haven’s stronger than Theresa realizes. She’s not just doing this for me, Garrett. She’s doing it for herself too."
He stares at me, then says, "Alright, but you better be ready for whatever Theresa throws next, because if she goes after my sister, you know I’ll have to step in."
I nod, fully understanding the weight of his words. "I wouldn’t expect anything less. But Garrett, I promise you, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Haven. This is real to me now. I won’t let anything happen to her."
“I also don’t want anything happening that will cause my mom unnecessary stress,” he continues in a sharp tone. “She’s too delicate to deal with Theresa’s bullshit. If you and Haven are going to do this, any messiness needs to be kept from Mom.”
“I swear, Garrett, I’ll do everything in my power to shield your mom from Theresa and any other complications that might arise.”
At that, he finally relaxes fully, though the tension between us still lingers. He’s not fully convinced, but he’s trusting me, and I can’t take that lightly.
"I’m still wrapping my head around all of this," he says, leaning back. "But if Haven’s happy, and if you’re serious about making this work, then I’m behind you."
"Thanks, Garrett," I reply, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. "I won’t let her down. Or you."
As I stand to leave, he moves to stand in front of me, his face softening just a bit. "Take care of her, Chris. And be careful with Theresa. I know how she operates."
"I will," I assure him, gripping his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. "I’ve got this."
Walking out of Garrett’s apartment, the conversation weighs heavily on me. Telling him the truth about Haven and our arrangement was hard enough, but knowing that Theresa is still in the background, waiting to strike, makes everything feel more fragile than I want to admit.
***
Arriving home from my visit with Garrett, I step into the house, closing the door quietly behind me. The soft murmur of voices reaches my ears, followed by the sound of Oliver’s high-pitched laughter. I can’t help but smile, the tension from my conversation with Garrett loosening its grip on my shoulders. Walking toward the living room, I pause in the doorway. Haven and Oliver are sitting on the floor, surrounded by a mess of blocks and toy cars. Edna is nearby on the couch, watching the two with a soft smile on her face. Oliver is animatedly explaining the “car race” they’re about to have, his little hands waving in the air, while Haven listens intently, nodding with mock seriousness.
I lean against the doorframe, watching them. The sight of Haven laughing with my son does something to me—something deep. It’s not just comfort or happiness. It’s a kind of peace I didn’t expect to find in the middle of this chaos.
Haven looks up, catching my eye, and her face lights up with a smile.
"Hey, you’re home," she says softly, rising from the floor and brushing a strand of hair from her face. "How did your meeting go?"
I’d told her I had an early morning meeting so that she didn’t worry or feel the need to come with me. That conversation was something I had to have with her brother on my own. I gesture toward the kitchen. She nods, and after giving Oliver a quick kiss on the head and giving Edna a nod, she follows me. The second we’re alone, she turns to me with an arched brow.
"What’s up?" she asks.
Sighing, I confess, “All right, here’s the thing… I didn’t actually have an early morning meeting. Garrett’s back in town and I went to talk to him.”
Her eyes go wide. “What? You went without me?”
I nod, letting out a heavy breath. “I did, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I needed to talk to him alone. Man-to-man.”
She scowls. “You still should’ve told me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Letting out a huff of breath, she murmurs, “So… how did he take it?”
I place my hands on her shoulders, my thumbs brushing gently across her collarbone. "It’s okay, Haven. Garrett was shocked, sure, but he’s going to be fine. He just needed some time to process it all."
Her brows knit together, and she bites her lip, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s holding back her nerves. "Was he angry? Did he… did he understand about the arrangement?"
I nod, pulling her closer into me. "He wasn’t thrilled at first, and he had a lot of questions. He’s protective of you, of course, but he understands now. He knows this isn’t just some quick decision or something we’re doing recklessly, and I told him how much you mean to me, that… that it’s real now."
Haven exhales slowly, some of the tension leaving her body as she relaxes into my touch.
"I was so worried about telling him," she admits, her voice softer now. "I didn’t want him to feel blindsided or like we kept him in the dark for too long."
"I get it," I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But he gets it now, too. He’s on board, even if he’s still a little cautious. We talked through everything—what it means for us, what it means for Oliver—and he’s going to support us."
Haven looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. "Are you sure? Garrett doesn’t hold back when he’s angry, and I know this must have hit him hard."
I brush a thumb across her cheek, watching as her eyes flutter closed at the contact. "I’m sure. He’s your brother, Haven. He loves you, and he’s going to be there for you no matter what. We’ll handle whatever comes, together."
She drops her head against my chest.
"Thank you," she whispers. "For talking to him. For handling all of this."
I wrap my arms around her and hold her. The world feels distant, the weight of the conversation with Garrett fading into the background as we stand in the quiet of the kitchen, our future together growing more solid and real every day.