Chapter 21
Corvus
Oops. I did again, I guess. I should probably sing that in public as my punishment.
All those years of perfect self-control, and I lose it over some guy flirting with a man who I was happy to leave for dead less than a month ago. I am to marry this man though. He cuddles me to sleep, and I can’t fucking stand the thought of him in any other bed.
Which is ridiculous.
Idiotic.
Following such base emotions has only ever brought me pain.
This isn’t like me, and yet…
“Yes, we will pay for the physio, and lost pay, and of course an appropriate compensation for emotional losses. As long as you agree to settle this privately,” Damen tells Stephen as I watch Dalton’s tense features, Mother’s words ringing in my ears like a fire alarm.
This is the moment to say no and call off, or at least put off, the wedding.
So is it really so bad that I want to stay in the burning building just because Dalton is inside too?
Dalton steps back, rubbing his forehead, and won’t look at me, but Mom is there to keep me busy. “Please? I am on top of the planning. The stained glass windows will look amazing in pictures!”
“What kind of venue is it?” I mutter, but all I want is a moment alone with Dalton. If we are to marry, then he and I need to talk this through.
As she starts explaining the neo-gothic church, and how we could even enter to a song by Corpselock, if that’s what we want, Aspen slowly peeks out from behind the sofa. At least there’s blood on his lips too.
“Tell him how beautiful it is, Dalton,” Mother insists, looking at the man who’s just suggested we should call off the ceremony. The awkwardness in the room couldn’t be any denser. “We scouted the location together last week.”
The air feels frosty on my lips whenever I look his way. Dalton’s avoiding my gaze, body slightly turned away, arms laid across the chest.
Have I been too crass and offended him this much? I wouldn’t have taken him for a dainty flower. I thought we were on the same page when it came to the wedding. “Dalton. Is it?”
He nods. “It’s real nice. Has an old cemetery nearby, and this sculpture of a very handsome angel.”
Behind him, Damen meets my gaze to signify he’s leaving with the tailor who, while inappropriate, maybe didn’t deserve as much as he got. What a fuckup.
I swallow, eyes on Dalton’s feet in the fancy wedding shoes.
Two weeks.
That’s insanity. It would have been too little even if he and I dated for a year, and yet— that’s what Dalton wants, and if he and I are to come to an understanding, I need to make concessions too.
“All right. Book it.”
Mom squeals and dances in place, grabbing Dalton’s hands.
He cracks a smile for her. I shouldn’t feel bitter about that after the spat we just had in public, but it still stings.
After all, didn’t he get what he wanted?
And after that tantrum in the morning? He wanted a wedding, and he’s getting it sooner than we expected.
“This is so exciting!” she says, only then clocking the mayhem we’ve caused. “What happened here? I leave you boys for twenty minutes and you can’t behave?” Like she’s the mature one here.
Remo shakes his head. “A misunderstanding, don’t worry about it.”
I nod. “You have far more important things to consider right now. Does the venue provide the catering? What else needs to be done?” I ask to distract her. I hate that I wish for a hug from Dalton. It’s like a weakness that’s crawled under my skin fuck knows when, and I can’t stand it.
She gasps. “Yes! The bachelor party! Since the wedding is so soon, it needs to be this weekend. Should we do two? I don’t know what the gay etiquette is for this. Do you have friends you’d like to invite, Dalton?”
There’s nothing I want less right now than a bachelor party.
Dalton shakes his head. “Not really. Maybe this one co-worker? I don’t know, I’ll ask.”
What? I know he doesn’t have any family he’s in touch with, but there should be friends…
“I can do it! I’m a fantastic organizer!”
Aspen’s voice is like the buzz of a mosquito deep in the night, and I spin around, barking, “Why is he here, Mother? It’s not exactly like he can give me style tips.”
She looks at me, blue eyes vacant. “Aspen? I invited your closest cousins, so it’s more fun.”
She really doesn’t understand what I consider fun. I take a deep breath.
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to invite Dallas?” I don’t have that much in common with Aspen’s older, more sensible brother, but at least he did not out me to everyone.
Mom pouts. “I invited him too!”
Aspen shrugs. “Sorry, he couldn’t make it. Said it was a bit too gay for him. I’m an ally though. And I’m actually very fashionable, thank you very much.”
I don’t even try to hold in laughter. “What about you, Remo? Is this occasion straight enough?”
He takes a deep breath and puts his hands on his hips looking as though he’s counting to ten in his head. I don’t blame him. Our family is fucked up and annoying. I bet it’s exactly why he avoids the family gatherings.
“I’m gay, actually, so no, it’s not too gay for me. That’s why your mother invited me.”
I stare at him, not computing what I’m hearing as my mother gasps and runs up to hug him. “I’m so proud of you, Remo!” she says as if holding back tears.
What. The. Fuck? Have I stepped into the Twilight zone?
And where was my ‘I’m so proud of you, Corvus’ when I got yanked out of the closet? I guess she was too busy crying after witnessing me suck Dalton’s dick.
Good God, now I won’t be able to stop thinking about the fact that half my family saw that happen! “The hell? Are you saying you knew? What happened to sharing everything, huh?” I ask her, because at least her presence distracts me from the urgent need to touch Dalton.
She makes a face at me that has ‘guilty’ written all over it. “That was Remo’s to share, I couldn’t exactly—”
Damen walks back in to the accompaniment of the bell. “All sorted. What did I miss?”
I think I’m going to be sick.
Aspen chimes in but stays a reasonable distance from me. “They agreed to the wedding in two weeks, Remo’s gay, and we need to work out the details of a bachelor party. Should there be two?”
Damen frowns and scans Remo from top to bottom. “That does actually make some sense.”
“Does it?” Aspen mutters, but everyone ignores him.
“One party,” I say hurriedly and step toward Damen, placing both my hands on his shoulders. I want someone reasonable at the helm, and as far as my cousins go, Damen’s my best bet. “Will you be my best man?”
Damen frowns, looking around as if he’s in need of help.
Oh, please, Damen, you’ve never needed anyone’s help in your life with the kind of charm and temper you have! Do this one thing for me.
“We could organize the bachelor party at my club,” Remo offers, and Damen relaxes, meeting my eyes.
“All right.”
Aspen shakes his head. “That is so unfair. I have great ideas for parties.”
I decide to ignore him altogether, as that’s the thing most likely to annoy him, but it means my attention drifts to Dalton who sits on the windowsill and is staring outside.
I hate that I don’t know what he’s thinking.
How am I supposed to make the right decisions without knowing about all the moving parts?