14. Vivi
Vivi
I can’t stop looking at the ring on my finger.
Or the man across from me.
I’m married.
I have a husband.
I’m married to Easton .
And now we’re enjoying a quiet lunch, just the two of us, like nothing life altering just happened, before we head back to the apartment where Luna and Cade are waiting.
“Is your steak not cooked the way you want?” Easton asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Oh, no, it’s good.” I smile to ease his mind. “I’m just a little distracted.”
“With what? Want to talk about it?”
Do I want to talk about our wedding night? No. Yes. “This is weird.”
“No more weird than the rest of our relationship.” He grins at me and I find I can’t stop myself from reciprocating.
“I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
“It’s not good or bad, it’s just us.” One broad shoulder lifts in an unconcerned shrug and I wish I could brush this off as easily as he seems to have. “I’m beginning to think that’s how things are going to be with us.”
“You don’t mind?” I know he said he wants this to be real, but I can’t believe he’s okay with the situation we’ve found ourselves in. “You’ve basically been forced into parenthood and marriage.”
“Nobody forced me to do anything.” His gaze bores into mine. “I want to be married to you. I want to be a father to Cade.”
I search his eyes, look for any doubt he might be feeling; all I see is naked truth. “You really mean that.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m not in the habit of lying about things and I’ll never lie to you.”
The conviction in his voice has my stomach relaxing. From the second we said I do, my insides have been tied in knots. No, the knots started this morning, when Easton informed me we were getting married and we left Cade with Luna at the apartment.
I trust her. Completely. But it was still hard to leave Cade behind. And the only reason I did was because I knew it would be better than dragging him to the courthouse for a wedding.
It’s bad enough we have to take him with us to the lawyer’s office this afternoon. Everything in me wants to keep him hidden away, so no one can say he doesn’t belong with us.
“Talk to me, Vivian.”
“I don’t like being away from Cade.” It’s a truth I wouldn’t normally reveal. Except I find myself revealing all sorts of things to Easton. “Can we skip dessert?”
“We can get it to go. Are you finished or do you want to box it up for later?” He signals our waiter for the check.
“I’m finished.” I push my plate to the side. “But I hate wasting food so get them to box it.”
“Cade is fine. Luna has been keeping us updated all day, and Vail and Laney are not far away if there’s any problems.”
“I can’t believe they flew in just so they could be close today.”
I shouldn’t be shocked by the support Easton’s friends give him. I witnessed it firsthand when everything with Van went to shit last year.
The second we arrived in Love Beach, Vail and Laney were surrounded by friends and family offering assistance. Watching from the sidelines had regret slicing through me.
I’ve never experienced that kind of support, and at that point, never thought I would. Except everyone has made sure I know I only have to ask and help will be on hand.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“How lucky you are to have friends and family willing to drop everything to help you. And not expect anything for it.”
“You have that now too.”
I nod. “I understand why you think that, but it always feels as though they think they have to because of what I did for Van.”
“Maybe in the beginning. When you first came to Love Beach, I’m sure most of us felt as though we owed you something.”
“I never asked?—”
“I know.” Easton reaches for my hand. Curls his fingers around mine. “It didn’t take everyone long to see you didn’t do what you did for payment or even thanks, but, Vivi, you have to understand that we are all eternally grateful you were able to help Vail get Van back.”
The waiter silently places the check at Easton’s side, giving me a moment to gather my thoughts.
I listen with half an ear as Easton asks for my leftovers to be packed. I’m assuming he forgot about dessert. Not that I’m upset by that. I might love anything sweet, and while I’m not full because I barely touched my lunch, I don’t think I could put anything else in my stomach without throwing up.
“I want to go back to the apartment.” The words are out of my mouth before I even register the thought.
“We’ll go now.” He pushes his chair back and helps me out of mine. “Our driver has been over at the bar, waiting for us to finish. He’s already heading out to get the car.”
I’d been surprised when the black SUV showed up this morning bringing Luna to us. Easton hadn’t told me Vail, Laney, Van, and Luna had arrived in Atlanta last night and were staying in a hotel in town.
When Easton told me the driver was ours for the day, I was shocked. Only I shouldn’t have been. I’ve been on the receiving end of Vail’s care from the moment I agreed to stay in Love Beach until the police caught the dealer Van’s mother had gotten herself tangled up with.
It says a lot about how much I trust Laney and her new husband when I didn’t immediately leave when the LAPD informed us all persons of interest had been arrested back in January.
I hadn’t thought about what I’d do when the threat was gone. I guess I assumed I would return to LA. Except the idea held no appeal and I’ve let myself drift. For months.
And my living arrangements aren’t the only thing I’ve let slide. I haven’t taken a job since Laney asked me to help with Van. I’ve barely been online. I keep tabs on things but other than that, I’ve been a lady of leisure. Enjoying the freedom to do nothing for the first time in my life.
Maybe that’s what has me unsettled. I know if I get online for long enough, I’ll have everything we need to secure Cade.
Except for the first time in my adult life, I’m letting someone else call the shots.
Easton.
Even when I lived with Thomas, I didn’t allow him to make decisions. Not even shopping for groceries. And yet, in the last few days I’ve deferred to Easton at every turn.
Not that I’ve been against anything he’s decided on.
No, just the opposite. I actually agreed with the direction he’s gone from the moment his security system alerted us to Cade’s presence.
“You’re doing it again.” Easton’s hand slips into mine and squeezes. “C’mon, let’s go see how Cade’s doing.”
The relief that washes over me is knee-buckling. I knew I hated leaving Cade but until this very second I hadn’t acknowledged how much.
Or that I missed him so deeply it hurt.
How can someone so small, so new in my life, have a hold on me like no other?
“It’s okay.” Easton smiles down at me. “I miss him too.”
I’m sure my surprise is written all over my face.
“Yeah, I’m shocked too.”
“You. How?”
Pulling me into his side, he walks us through the restaurant. “I’m a quick study, and while I won’t say I’m an expert, I am getting to know the difference between your expressions. I did tell you I was a little obsessed with you, remember?”
“Yes. But...” I shake my head. “I’ve never had anyone read me the way you do. It’s disconcerting. And strange.”
“Strange good or strange bad?” He pulls open the door and ushers me though ahead of him.
When we’re on the sidewalk, I contemplate his question. Having him understand me is nice. I’ve had to over-explain myself most of my life. It’s refreshing not to do that for once.
Offering him a smile, I say, “I don’t hate it.”
“Good. Because while I’m not an expert on all things Vivi yet, I plan to be.”
“You actually do want this marriage to be real.”
“I told you I wouldn’t lie to you, I meant it.”
“Yes, but being a married man means adopting Cade won’t be as difficult.”
“Probably. But there’s no guarantee.” Moving to the side, he tucks me against his front and wraps his arms around me, his hands resting on my lower back. “It should help, but I don’t want you to think this is all about Cade.”
“You told me it wasn’t.” With a shrug, I add, “Guess I didn’t believe it until now.”
“We formed QVE the year before we finished college. The year after we hit the black and the year after that we made our first million. Two years later we hit the billion-dollar mark. By the time we were thirty, we’d made QVE one of the biggest property developing companies in the country.”
“Why are you giving me a QVE history lesson?”
“Because I want you to understand that when I want something, I go after it until I have it. And you, Vivian Lenore Ralston , I want.”
“Yes, but… Oh .”
“Yeah, I’m not going to pressure you, although a quickie marriage in a judge’s office says otherwise, I’m giving you time to get used to us. You and me, and Cade.”
“And if Cade’s mother changes her mind?”
“Then I’ll just have to convince you to have our baby.” I don’t have time to register what he said, never mind comment, before he’s spinning me around. “Car’s here.”