Chapter 31
Rhonan
A Plan None of Us Saw Coming
“Where the fuck is Elliot?” Henley asks, checking his phone again for the tenth time. “He’s never this late.”
Fletcher shrugs from his seat at the blackjack table. “Did anyone try to call him?”
Henley nods. “I did about ten minutes ago, and it just went straight to his voicemail, but then he sent me a text saying he was on his way.” He glances back at the front door of my house. “But his office isn’t that fucking far from your house, Rhonan.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute,” Fletcher says as he shuffles the cards on the table in front of him.
He and my sister got back from their honeymoon just a few days ago, and since it’s been nearly three weeks since their wedding and longer than that since we’ve played blackjack, I invited the boys over to my place for a game tonight.
Even though I knew that Joanne would be here with Ellis and Vienna, I didn’t want to be too far away.
I only just went back to work last week and I’m finding myself struggling when I’m away from the two of them, more than I care to admit.
I know time and talking it through with my therapist is the only way that anxiety will dissipate, but I’ve only had one session with my therapist so far, so I’m not exactly a straight A student yet in that capacity.
So, while the boys and I are playing blackjack, the girls, including my sister, are over at Vienna’s house hanging out.
Her lease is good for another three months, so we decided to keep her house for extra space and a place for us to hide to be alone once she’s fully recovered, if you catch my drift.
Once her lease is up though, she will be moving in with me and Ellis and then I’m gonna try to convince her to marry me before this baby is born once her divorce is finalized.
I want to make this woman my wife and I’m not going to waste any more time contemplating a timeline for that.
“Do you think the girls are going to be able to stay awake for the movie?” Fletcher asks me from across the table.
I chuckle. “Doubt it. Vienna will just fall asleep at random times right now. Between recovery and the baby, she doesn’t have much energy at all.”
Henley shakes his head. “I still can’t believe that the two of you are going to have kids within a few weeks of each other.”
As Vienna and I discussed after she got home, we decided to go ahead and tell everyone about our baby too. To say the reactions were a mix of shock and elation would be an understatement.
I think the person that was the most elated was my dad, though.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him cry that hard but knowing he was going to get not only one, but two new grandbabies sent him reeling.
The smile on his face has been permanent ever since he heard mine and Vienna’s news as well, and he even told us that he’s thought about trying to date lately.
“Seeing you take another chance on love has made me realize perhaps I should do the same.”
Hearing those words from him is something that I’ll never forget. For the longest time, he’s been the person I’ve looked up to, admired, and respected so much. But in that moment, he told me that I was that person for him.
The past three months have taught me more about myself than years before have, and I’m soaking up each nugget of wisdom.
I thought that at this point in my life, there wouldn’t be much more for me to learn.
I’ve gone through some of the toughest moments a man should have to, but like my dad said, suffering brings gratitude—and now, that is the promise I’m making to myself for this next phase of my life—to be grateful for the lessons, the blessings, and everything in between.
“Don’t you want another kid?” Fletcher asks Henley as I reach for the bowl of pretzels in the center of the table.
“Hell yeah, I do. But I’ve got to put a ring on Elodie’s finger first.”
“Any ideas on when that might happen? You know, just so I don’t steal your thunder,” I tease.
He lifts a brow at me. “Already thinking about popping the question to Vienna?”
“She’s having my child and sacrificed her life to save my other child. I think I’d be a fool if I didn’t marry her.”
Fletcher and Henley laugh. “Well, I do know the date of when I’m going to ask her to marry me,” Henley continues just as the front door of my house opens, and Elliot comes barreling through, slamming it shut behind him.
“Fucking great. We’re talking about marriage already?” Elliot yanks at his tie as he walks into the room and then darts to the kitchen, grabbing a beer from the fridge.
“Are you okay?” Fletcher asks. “You seem agitated.”
“No shit.” Elliot pops the top from the bottle and then drains the entire beer in one drink. He returns to the fridge for another and then empties half of that one before finally taking a seat at the table and groaning. “Motherfucker.”
Henley taps the table. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume something is bothering you.”
Elliot glares at Henley while Fletcher and I try to fight our laughter.
“You have no idea the hell that I’ve been in for the past two days.”
Fletcher drops the cards on the table. “Start talking.”
Henley nods as he drops the playful smile and leans forward. “Dude, we’re here for you. You fucking know that.”
I jostle his shoulder. “No more holding shit in, remember?”
His eyes bounce back and forth between us before he takes another sip of his beer. “Tori is back in town.”
The three of us freeze as silence descends upon the room. “I…uh…Are you fucking serious?” I ask once I can finally form words.
Elliot huffs out a laugh. “Trust me, I wish I were joking.”
Fletcher pushes a hand through his hair. “Fuck. I didn’t see that one coming.”
Elliot takes another drink. “Me neither, especially since now she’s working at my parents’ law firm.”
Henley’s jaw falls to the floor. “You’re fucking joking. Please tell me you’re fucking joking.”
Elliot narrows his eyes at him again. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Fletcher clears his throat. “What the actual fuck, man? Your dad hired her?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
Elliot blows out a breath. “I haven’t fucking figured that out yet, but trust me, he got an earful from me yesterday. And then today, he returned the favor when…”
I tilt my head in his direction. “What happened today?”
Elliot sets his beer bottle on the table and then hangs his head in his hands. “I’ve sort of agreed to a fake relationship.”
“With who?”
“I’m afraid you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he mumbles just loud enough for us to hear him.
Henley narrows his eyes at him. “Are you fucking serious?”
Fletcher and I share a look, clearly not up to speed.
Elliot lifts his head and locks eyes with Henley. “Don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, but my sister sure does.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was her idea.”
Fletcher’s mouth falls open. “Wait…”
“No fucking way,” I add.
Elliot blows out a breath. “Trust me, if I thought there was any other way to make Tori believe that there is no second chance for us, I would consider it. But I’m afraid this is the only option.”
“You’re going to pretend that my sister, Dilynne Clark, is your fake girlfriend?” Henley clarifies.
And then Elliot shocks us all even further. “Not just my girlfriend. My fiancé.”
THE END