Chapter 26
Payton
“ C heers to the birthday boy,” everyone says in unison, clinking our glasses together.
Today is Rhyland’s birthday, and while he doesn’t like to celebrate it, I convinced him to have my family over.
I took care of everything, from cleaning up the house to cooking the food and even baking a cake.
Of course, the look on his face when he saw the chaos I had caused in the kitchen this morning was priceless.
He ended up grabbing Gabby from her high chair and left the kitchen, never to return till I was wiping down the counters a few hours later.
But it was all worth it as I look around at all the food and everyone’s smiling faces—especially the birthday boy himself.
“Man, I can’t even remember the last time we were with you on your birthday,” Ollie says.
“Pay suggested we get together, and I must agree she was right. It’s nice to be surrounded by loved ones.”
“Yes, it is,” Mom says as she walks out on the deck with Gabby in her arms. “By the way, the house is looking great. I love the photos up the stairs. That one of Payton by the water is one of my favorites.”
“Mom’s right. It looks so homey,” Ollie adds. “You’ve lived here for how long, Rhy? And it’s never looked like someone actually lived here.” His tone is teasing, and he’s not completely wrong, but I can’t help but roll my eyes.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve hung photos all over the house.
Some are landscape images by local photographers that we picked up at the farmer’s market, while others are of our families and Gabby.
I even snagged some Holland Mosby originals, which are my favorite, but then again, I might be a little biased.
Rhy shrugs my brother’s comment off before turning his attention to my mom. “Thank you, but don’t look at me. That’s also this girl right here.” He bumps my shoulder with his, smirking. “The girls have definitely been making this house more of a home.”
“Damn, sis. Maybe you should’ve moved in years ago. Looks like you’re good for him,” Ollie responds.
For a moment, I pretend that he’s saying that about us and not just like this. It’s honestly so hard to be this close and not hold his hand or rest my head on his shoulder like we do when we watch TV on the couch.
I end up giving a tight smile to keep from screaming how good he’s been for me, too. He’s been amazing with Gabby and at seeing my worth, all the while repairing what Joel broke. And of course, all the orgasms don’t hurt.
As I observe how easily conversation comes between everyone, I realize that whenever I brought Joel around, it was never like this.
It was tense and awkward. Why did I put up with it for as long as I did?
Gabby’s laughter draws my attention to her and where she sits on my mom’s lap at the end of the table, grabbing and showing off her feet—her latest fascination.
I can’t help but feel so thankful that this is my life.
The only thing that could top this feeling would be if I could lean over and kiss the birthday boy and not give my family a heart attack.
I’ve finally dug into my food when my phone rings in my pocket. Who could be calling me when really everyone I talk to is right here, minus Sara Beth? I reach into my pocket and see “Allison Clarke”—my lawyer.
After the incident with Joel, I had tried to push it to the back of my mind, but it was eating me up with the why , so I had put a call in to her office. Allison told me she would look into the issue and get back to me.
“I’ll be right back,” I whisper to Rhy, excusing myself from the table and heading inside.
“Hello,” I answer hesitantly, thankful I didn’t eat too much because I can already feel my stomach turning in anticipation of what she might say. Was our simple divorce and him signing away his rights over too good to be true?
“Hi, Payton. Sorry to bother you over the weekend.”
“No, it’s no problem at all. I’m surprised to hear from you over the weekend.”
She laughs. “You know, I basically live here. And I finally got some information that I figured you would want to hear.”
I rest my back against the counter and chew on my thumbnail as I wait for her to continue.
“First of all, let me reassure you that by signing away his rights, he has no say in your living situation—or anything having to do with Gabby.” A weight releases from my chest just hearing those words.
“I finally heard back from Joel’s lawyer after days of calling.
I guess he got tired of my voicemails, but he only has his client to blame for my incessant calling.
“It seems as though Joel just wanted to show off his narcissistic ways and rub his shit in your face, as his lawyer said so eloquently. Off the record—a true spoiled dickhead,” she chuckles.
“It turns out that Joel had a friend follow you to find out where you were working and living.” Goose bumps line my flesh, and I feel dirty, knowing that someone had been watching us.
But honestly, why am I not surprised he couldn’t just let me go?
When I look up, I find Rhy staring at me from his seat. How long has he been doing that? I give him a reassuring smile. Ollie says something to him and snaps in front of his face, garnering his attention again.
“Now it’s up to you on where you want to go next.
You have a few options. I can draft the paperwork for you to file a restraining order, or you can go to the courthouse and do that yourself.
There will then be a hearing date, a copy sent to Joel, and he will be given an opportunity to fight the allegations. ”
“Honestly,” I cut her off, “I really just want it over and done with. I don’t want to prolong the process. There was a reason I wanted a quick divorce. But if he comes back, I definitely won’t hesitate.”
“I completely understand. You can pass on to your roommate that no charges of assault will be filed either on his behalf. Maybe Joel has at least one single brain cell, although that’s still up for debate. Just perhaps share with him to use his words and not his fists next time.”
I laugh awkwardly and pray on everything holy that there never will be a next time. “Don’t worry about that. Thank you so much for all of this, Allison.”
“It’s no problem at all, and please, Payton, call me if there is any more trouble, okay?”
I agree before we say our goodbyes. Turning my back to my family, I press my palms into the cool countertop.
Are you fucking kidding me? All of that because he’s a fucking narcissist. What the fuck was I thinking with that man? After a few calming breaths, I rejoin the party.
“Everything okay?” Rhyland whispers, leaning close to my ear.
I nod and tilt my head so the conversation avoids wandering ears. “It was just Allison calling with news.”
Rhyland opens his mouth to respond, but Ollie cuts him off.
“Allison? As in Allison Clarke?” His voice attracts the attention of the entire table. Fuck my brother and his eavesdropping. I could seriously kill him. If looks could kill, he’d be dead and buried.
“Your lawyer? What did you need to talk to her about?” my mother questions.
“Is this about him showing up at Tilley’s?” Archer finally speaks. He’s been back to his usual brooding self lately, lost in his own thoughts.
Guess there’s no avoiding this conversation. I should have just let the call go to voicemail.
“Yes, because of that. I put a call into her. I just needed to know why he was here since he never got the chance to explain.”
“Well, duh. Rhyland never gave him the chance,” Ollie jokes, bringing his hands up in a protective stance, as if he were in a boxing match.
“I’m just thankful you weren’t there and didn’t need to see him,” Arch responds before taking a long pull from his beer.
Rhyland and I share a glance. Yup, so thankful I didn’t see him. If only they knew.
“What was that?” Ollie raises his voice, pointing his fork between Rhy and me.
“What was what?” I say, trying to play it off. I really wish Ollie wasn’t so fucking observant, or maybe I should have my head on straight and not make stupid mistakes.
“That look you two just shared.” He waves his fork between us again. “What was that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. What aren’t you telling us?” Lots of things, big brother.
I sigh in defeat, and with an encouraging smile, Rhyland nods for me, needing to explain.
“After the fight, he showed up on our doorstep.” As I explain the events that took place, obviously leaving out the kissing that followed, I take in everyone’s expressions.
My brothers and even Rhyland look like they’re ready to murder, while Hollie looks shocked and my mom focuses on Gabby, who has since fallen asleep in her arms, but when she lifts her gaze, unshed tears fill her eyes.
This isn’t how I wanted to spend Rhy’s birthday. However, the tension surrounding us is suffocating.
“So, Payton,” my sister-in-law cuts in, and I think I just love her more for trying to ease the tension. “How are things with that guy you’re seeing? I was hoping we would’ve gotten to meet him today.”
Okay, maybe I don’t love Hollie all that much. One awkward subject to the other.
“Dating? You’re dating someone now?” In the blink of an eye, Ollie transforms from a man almost thirty to his teenage self, learning I was going out on my first date.
Rhyland’s body is so tense beside me, and his hand falls to my thigh under the table. I have to hide my smile—it’s possessive as fuck and such a turn-on.
“Oliver,” my mother scolds.
“What? I’m just saying. “First, she keeps the Joel shit from us, and now she’s secretly seeing someone?”
Rhyland’s fingers stroke my thigh in a calm circle, having sensed my emotions building. “You need to calm down. Payton is an adult, so just chill out.”
Hollie grabs her husband’s arm and whispers something into his ear, and the tension in his shoulders seems to relax.
“You know what? You’re right. I just worry about you, that’s all.”
“Thank you, but I can take care of myself.”
The rest of the meal goes on with no more arguments and raised voices, but I’m thankful for the reprieve I have from my family as I get the cake ready in the kitchen.
I smudged a small slide of the icing when I got it out of the fridge, so my focus is on the spot of the cake, fixing it when arms wrap around me from behind.
Rhyland presses his face into the crook of my neck, and I squirm in his hold as his stubble brushes against my skin.
“Rhyland,” I scold, although it comes out more of a whine as his teeth find my skin.
He swipes the side of the cake that I had just fixed with his finger and brings it to his lips. “Mmm, tasty, but not as sweet as you.”
“Behave.”
“It’s my birthday, and I’ll behave if I want to.” His voice lowers to a whisper. “But spoiler alert, I don’t want to.”
Suddenly, Rhy tugs on the hem of my shirt, further from view, and his mouth is on mine.
When his tongue brushes mine and his hands pull me closer to his body, the world falls away.
I completely forget that my family is just a few feet away and that they are completely unaware that I’m falling in love with this man.
“God, are you sure we can’t just kick everyone out now?” he says against my lips.
“No, we can’t. And don’t even think about using your puppy dog face. We just have to get through this for a little longer before everyone leaves.”
“And then you’re mine.” Before I can take my next breath, his lips seal over mine possessively.
“What the fuck?” Ollie shouts from outside, and I push myself off Rhy.
Oh my God, this is it. Did he see us?
Ollie barrels through the back door, and I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for him to come charging at us, but when that doesn’t happen and I feel Rhy’s body behind me laughing, I slowly open my eyes to find Ollie standing there, red in the face, covered in what I assume was his beer—or, well, someone’s beer.
His shirt and his shorts are both soaked.
Once the relief passes that he didn’t catch us, it takes everything not to laugh at the scene in front of me. “Everything okay, bro?”
“Archer knocked over my brand-new beer right into my lap.”
“I said I was sorry,” my oldest brother shouts.
“Whatever.” Ollie flings his middle finger into the air. “I’m going to borrow a change of clothes, Rhy.” Ollie disappears out of the kitchen, and I slink back against Rhy’s chest with each thud of his footsteps.
“That was close,” I breathe. One thing is for sure: we can’t keep this a secret for much longer.