Chapter 10
Otto
“I thought they were on their way back,” I muttered, looking up at the clock.
We’d been sitting in my parents’ kitchen, drinking beer and killing time for the last hour. Thankfully, all of us boys knew how to cook and dinner was warming on the stove, because the women were a lot later than they said they’d be.
“Talked to Bishop not fifteen minutes ago, and he said they’re fine,” my dad replied easily. “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
“Not sure why we didn’t send a member with them,” I muttered. “Bishop’s a fuckin’ civilian.”
“Bishop’s family,” my dad countered, flicking his beer cap at me. “And we didn’t want a member out with them, callin’ attention to the group.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You’re such a worrywart,” Rumi joked, leaning back in his chair. “They’re fine.”
I’d understood why they’d chosen to go shopping immediately.
They were trying to distract my bride from all the shit that was happening behind the scenes, with the added bonus of getting to know her and delicately getting information from her without her realizing it.
That didn’t mean that I was stoked they’d been gone all fucking day.
“Esther’s probably fuckin’ exhausted,” I argued. “She’s had a hell of a day.”
“Understatement,” my dad murmured. “Poor thing.”
“You’re really gonna marry her, huh?” Rumi asked seriously.
“I’m really gonna marry her,” I confirmed.
“Why?”
The question hit me right in the solar plexus and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I’d been ordered to, but I couldn’t get the words out. Sometime between when I’d been kicked in the balls with the order to marry Esther and sitting down at my parents’ table, something had changed.
It wasn’t like I had some burning desire to marry Esther, far from it.
But I also didn’t want people to think that I was being forced into it.
She didn’t deserve that. When she’d stood surrounded by women that morning but looked at me for reassurance, I’d suddenly realized that it was me and her now. Somehow, we’d become a team.
I could think of worse things.
“We’re havin’ a baby,” I replied blandly.
“You don’t have to get married just because you’re havin’ a kid.”
“You’ve met Esther.” I shrugged. She wasn’t the type to shack up with someone without being married.
“Still—”
“Your brother’s made his decision,” my dad interrupted. He knew about the order. “Leave it alone.”
“She won’t fuck you again unless you’re married,” Rumi said, pointing at me. “That’s it, right?”
I was out of my chair before I even realized that I was moving.
“Rumi,” my dad roared, his hand slapping against my chest.
“Sorry,” Rumi muttered, his hands held up in surrender as he stared wide-eyed. “I was jokin’.”
“You want me jokin’ about Nova?” I asked through gritted teeth. My dad’s hand was still pressed against my chest like he wasn’t sure if he was going to have to hold me back or not. “I mean, didn’t she start hookin’ up with you because you were both drunk?”
Rumi’s expression darkened, but he stayed in his seat. “Point taken.”
“Is the coast clear?” my brother Micky asked, poking his head in the back door. “We started comin’ in the front but I heard you yellin’ so we came around back to give you a minute.”
“Yeah,” I waved him in as I sat back down. “All clear.”
“Cool,” he replied, opening the door wider so Rhett could come inside.
“Grandpa was yelling,” Rhett announced as he strode toward the table. “Rumi!”
“Grandpa’s always yelling at Rumi,” Myla said wryly as she came in behind him. “Why the heck did Micky pick me up today?”
“Because I asked him to.” Dad looked past her. “Where’s Titus?”
“He said he was goin’ to a friend’s house,” Micky replied warily. “Didn’t he clear it with you first?”
Dad shook his head.
“That little fuck,” Micky muttered, pulling out his phone.
“We’re home,” my mom called from the front of the house. “Come help us carry shit inside!”
I was on my feet and headed toward the living room before anyone else.
Rumi had been giving me shit calling me a worrywart, but that was exactly what I’d felt like all day.
I knew that Esther was fine with my mom, but I’d still felt anxious while she was out of my sight, especially knowing they’d detonated the cabin.
The Sons of Calgary were going to be looking for answers and we were the first place they’d look.
Allowing the women to go all over town hadn’t been a good idea, and I should’ve said something, but I’d been too concerned about Esther’s feelings.
She deserved a real wedding, with decorations and a dress and all that shit.
She was standing inside the doorway, her hands full of bags, and she reminded me of a wilted flower.
“Hey,” she greeted with a small smile, little wisps of hair tickling her cheeks. “I spent all the money you gave me.”
“Good. That’s why I gave it to you,” I mumbled, taking the bags from her hands and setting them on the couch.
God, she was pretty. The braid in her hair seemed to make her look softer or something more approachable.
If I was being honest, so did her little round belly.
I’d always found Esther attractive, in a purely aesthetic way, but once I’d seen her naked with her hair pooled beneath her, that attraction had grown into something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was electric.
And now that I knew I’d be seeing her naked again in a few days, the attraction was getting hard to control.
“Did you have a good day?” I asked, ushering her a little away from the door as my family moved in and out carrying bags in from the car.
“Yeah, it was nice,” she replied, smiling softly. “I think we went to every store in Eugene.”
“Did you find everything you needed?” Her hair was soft against my fingers as I cupped her cheeks. Jesus, why the hell did it feel like I hadn’t seen her in months rather than just a few hours? I was clearly fucking losing it.
“I think so?” She frowned. “We got dark blue decorations. Is that okay? Your mom couldn’t remember your favorite color.”
“I like blue,” I assured her.
“Oh, good.” She sighed and crossed her eyes as her shoulders slumped. I let out a startled chuckle. “I’m so tired.”
“I bet.” I kissed her forehead. “You hungry?”
“Really hungry,” she confirmed sheepishly. Her eyes grew glassy. “But my feet hurt so bad I don’t think I can even walk to the kitchen. That’s why I didn’t help unload the car.”
“Christ,” I muttered, dropping down to one knee. “Lift your foot.”
“I’m not used to cowboy boots,” she said apologetically, bracing one hand on my shoulder as she let me pull the boot off. I rubbed the arch of her foot with my thumbs before setting it on the floor and reaching for the other boot. “The heels are higher than I’m used to.”
As soon as the boots were off, she sighed with relief and I smiled to myself, looking down at her feet.
She needed to start wearing socks with some cushion, the tights she had on were so thin it must’ve felt like wearing nothing.
Maybe I’d stop by the store and get her some.
I wondered if she’d think that was weird.
“Oh.” The word was so quiet that I nearly didn’t hear it, but the tone was enough for me to snap my head back to look at her face.
“What?” I barked. I couldn’t see anything wrong, but her face had paled and her eyes were as wide as saucers, the pupils dilated with pain.
“Cramp,” she breathed, her lips barely moving. She was barely even breathing. “My legs.”
“Which part?” I barked again, reaching for her. I knew before she’d even replied. Both of her calves were as hard as rocks. “You need to stretch them.”
I looked over my shoulder and yelled for my mom. She must’ve heard my panic because she came running.
“What’s wrong?”
“Both of Esther’s legs are cramping.”
“Jesus, Otto,” she said in exasperation. “I thought we were being attacked.”
“Help her,” I ordered, trying to flex Esther’s foot forward as she whimpered.
“I know it hurts like a bitch,” my mom said soothingly as she rubbed Esther’s back. “I got them with all my pregnancies at one point or another. Let Otto stretch them out.”
Five minutes later, Esther was standing normally, her hands in my hair, and I was sweating like I’d run a goddamn marathon.
“Come in when you’re ready to eat,” my mom said before walking away.
“Thank you,” Esther said after she was gone, her hands falling away. “I can’t believe how bad that hurt.”
“Fuck me,” I muttered, leaning my forehead against her belly.
“They’re better now.” She tentatively slid her fingers through my hair again.
“Give me a minute,” I grumbled, gripping her hips.
“I didn’t mean to freak you out,” she said ruefully, letting go of my hair as I leaned back on my heels.
“You need to eat more bananas,” I replied gruffly, getting to my feet. “And drink more water.”
“I’ll remember that.” Her expression was serious, but her eyes were shining.
“I’m serious.”
“I know,” she murmured, smiling a little.
“Come on, let’s grab some food.” I grabbed her hand and led her toward the noisy kitchen. “I’m glad you had a good day.”
“Your mom can shop,” she mused. “She made me write out a list in the car, and I think we found everything on it.”
“You get a dress?” I asked, glancing at her over my shoulder.
“Yep.” Her cheeks grew pink. “But you can’t see it.”
“I’m gonna see it eventually.”
“In three days, apparently.”
“Actually, four,” I mumbled. “We need to go and get the license tomorrow morning.”
“Get a plate,” my mom ordered as we entered the busy kitchen. “The boys made tacos.”
“You cook?” Esther asked in surprise as I tugged her toward the kitchen counter where the different toppings were laid out.
“Tacos are easy.” I handed her a plate. “You just have to cook the meat, really. Everything else is just cut up.”
“I can cook,” she said, quietly proud. “I’m actually really good at it.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep.”
“We can take turns, then.”
I turned to her when she seemed to freeze in place. “What?”
“You want to cook?”