Chapter 37
My head snapped up.
“Tyler, what the f?—?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… Busted!” he chuckled, leaning against the door frame. “And on your papa’s desk, whatever would Unc say?” I pulled a very naked Bella behind my back.
“It’s all good, man. Not like I haven’t seen it all before.” Tyler laughed.
I clenched my fists. “For the sake of your balls, that’d better be a joke,” I seethed.
“Calm your tits, man. I haven’t seen shit.” Tyler rolled his eyes before glancing away, now unsure where to look.
“Go wait for me in the fuckin’ kitchen,” I ordered, his face falling.
“Arturo, dude! I was only?—”
“NOW, Tyler. We ain’t discussin’ shit right this second.” The fucker finally took the hint and raced off to the kitchen, slamming the door shut.
I could feel the panic radiating from her. She’d been a shivering wreck the moment the little shit had walked in.
“I’ll have a word with him, he won’t say anythin’,” I reassured her, but it was no use, she looked like she was going to be sick.
“That could have been my father, Arturo,” she seethed in a quiet tone, haphazardly grabbing her clothes and yanking them on.
“Isabella, calm the fuck down,” I grabbed her, her body colliding with mine.
“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down? What the fuck are we even doing?”
“Do you really need me to spell that out for you, princess?”
“Ugh! You can be such a… such a…” she started.
“Twat?”
“I don’t know what the fuck that means, but yes, that.”
“Isabella, mi hermosa , it’s all good. I knew it wouldn’t have been your father, or the guys.” I reached out to lay my palms on her shoulders but she threw them off.
“I just had visions of my father blowing your brains out.” She stared at me through glassy eyes, tears pricking the corners.
“Come here.” I said, her hands trembling as I held her flat against my chest. I kissed her forehead and stroked her back, encouraging her to let out shaky breaths. “That’s not goin’ to happen. You hear me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Where is my father anyway?”
“Gone to the docks. Had some shit to sort out. I knew they’d be out all day.” I cupped her face between my hands. “So is that why you’re so mad, huh? Worried about me, were ya?”
“Y-yes…” she whispered.
“Go back upstairs and check you’ve packed everything. I’ll make it as though we were never here. Then I’ll go speak to Tyler.” She nodded in agreement then placed a soft kiss on my lips. “ Go on, I’ll come and find you soon, alright?” The moment she was gone I let out a breath.
Shit. I could’ve sworn that little shit was also out.
After cleaning up the office, I found Tyler in the kitchen, sitting on the counter eating cereal out of the box like Theo sometimes did.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, man.” His voice was calm, but the tinge of concern surrounding it threw me.
“It ain’t like that. Whatever you think this is about, it ain’t.” I leaned against the opposite counter and folded my arms. “I care about that girl. She’s… important to me.” I breathed as Tyler shrugged and nodded.
“Wow, I didn’t think dudes like you had feelings.” My lips lifted a little as he put the box to one side. “You know this can only end one way, right?”
“I’d like to see ‘em try. Bella’s mine and I’m hers. There ain’t nothin’ they can do to keep me from her.” He shrugged and made a it’s-your-funeral sort of look before grinning.
“Her father’s office though? Naughty.” A chuckle left him, and I knew he’d keep our secret.
“And you’ll never speak of this again, you get me?”
“Secret’s safe with me, bro.” Good man.
“Cheers, Ty,” I turned my back to him, making my way to find Bella.
“Wait… Is that why you didn’t let me come to the wedding?” he asked. “Because you’re gonna be smooching and banging and shit?”
“Watch your filthy mouth!” I frowned, pointing my finger at him. “I wanted it to just be the two of us without us havin’ to worry about who’s watchin’ us.”
“You sure weren’t worried who caught today though, were ya?” I was about two seconds from decking this kid before he chuckled. “Geez, take a joke will ya? In all seriousness, can you answer one question in exchange for my silence?”
“Shoot.”
“Do you love her?” I heaved a sigh.
“Ty, you keepin’ our secret cements what a stand up guy you are. But all you need to know is that I’d give my life for that woman.”
“Good… Just be careful, Unc won’t take kindly to knowing you’re getting hot and heavy with his only daughter.”
“There ain’t a thing he can do to stop me bein’ with her.”
Tyler gave me a genuine smile before holding his hand out. I narrowed my eyes in caution but took his handshake all the same.
“Hey, uhm, I hope this isn’t weird, but… I’m like sorry for bugging ya all the time. I just… Shit, dude, I want to be like you.” I stiffened and dropped his hand.
“Trust me, kid. You don’t wanna be anythin’ like me.”
“You kidding? You’re strong, smart, feared, respected. Hell, half the guys here think you’re a god.”
“I ain’t no god. Just a man with a bag of regrets and a load of mistakes to show for his life. I don’t deserve her. I know that.”
“Look, I’ve sorta always been treated like the punk kid around here, but, man, I’m tired of no one taking me seriously, you know?”
“What you askin’ me, Ty?”
“Will you like be my mentor or whatever?” He scratched the back of his head, making the blue strands stand on end.
“Fine. I’ll teach you everythin’ I know?” Warmth bloomed in my chest as a smile broke out across his face. “But you have to fuckin’ listen, no pissin’ about, got it?”
“You got it.”
“Good fella,” I patted his shoulder. “You’re a good kid, Ty, don’t let any fucker ever tell you any different.”
After that I turned on my heel to head to find my woman.
Too cowardly to tell her?
Go fuck yourself. Fuckin’ wankers.
Running scared, aren’t ya?
Shitting yourself that she won’t love you back…
I don’t give a shit if she doesn't love me back yet. But when I do tell her that I love her, it will be fuckin’ special and not even you will ruin that.
Well, well… Arturo Ramos finally grew some balls… How special.
Shame you’ll never deserve her love… or anyone else’s.
Fuck you. If and when she does tell me, I’ll treasure it.
She’s the only light I’ll ever need in my miserable existence.
I strummed my fingers against the balcony railings of our hotel suite, taking one last drag from my cigarette.
I loathed weddings. Most of the ones I’d been to were full of hypocrisy and lies.
That and someone usually always died. But for some reason I wasn’t dreading this one. Was it because I’d be with her?
“How do I look?” Bella appeared at the doorway, wind blowing through her hair softly.
She wore a little more makeup than usual but had left her adorable freckles free and clear.
Her lilac, satin dress clung to her curves and the tempting slit stopped just above her knee.
She twirled gracefully on the spot, blowing me a kiss.
“ Estoy sin palabras por lo asombrosa que eres. ” My dick hardened at the thought of ripping her out of it later.
“That good, huh?” she teased, while sauntering over to me.
“What makes you think what I said was good?” I smirked, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Because it always is when you say it,” she beamed, brushing a stray hair off my forehead.
“You take my breath away with your beauty, mi princesa ,” I whispered, her fingers trailing down the open buttons of my shirt.
“How come you didn’t wear a suit?” she questioned, raising an arched brow.
“The only time I’ll ever wear a tux is when I marry you,” I pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Ready?”
“Uh… yeah.” I smirked internally as her face broke out in clear panic.
It was clear my mind was further along than hers in terms of our future but I could be patient.
Once I’d made a decision on something it hardly ever changed.
I offered Bella my arm and with a taken aback expression, she took it.
“What’s that face for? Don’t think I can be a gentleman? ”
“It’s just… we’re about to walk out of here arm in arm like it’s no big deal who sees. It’s weird.” I couldn’t hide my smile as we strolled towards the door. “Wait!” Bella paused, ripping her arm from mine, something I didn’t appreciate.
“What?”
“I never asked you to be my date!” I couldn’t tell if she was taking the piss or being serious.
“I thought it was a given,” I laughed, a real genuine one.
“I wanted to do it properly though and I fucked up,” her nose crinkled as she slapped a palm to her forehead.
“Hey, stress head. You didn’t fuck anythin’ up. If I was accompanyin’ you to this weddin’, I’d have always been your date.”
“Well, it’s not like you’d have let anyone else take me.” And with that, my feisty girl was back.
“Too fuckin’ right,” I kissed the top of her head, offering her my arm once more. “Now, let’s try that again, shall we?”
“Yes.” She led me out of the room, towards where Lily was finishing getting ready. The moment we entered the room Lily’s eyes became curious.
“You go on, I’ll meet you after the ceremony,” I whispered as Lily tried to read me. One thing for sure was, she wasn’t very fucking good at hiding what she was thinking.
Bella gave me a gentle nod, as Lily pulled her inside, squealing with excitement. Whether it was because it was her wedding day or because of something else I didn’t want to know.
The ceremony was long and tedious. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Bella as she stood listening to her friend and the groom exchange vows.
The next time she stands at an altar, she would be reciting her vows to me.
Her gaze occasionally wandered to where I sat and I couldn’t ignore the concern pinching at the corner of her eyes as she took in stares I was getting from the other bridesmaids. She knew she had nothing to worry about, so why the fuck did she care?
The cheers for the newly wed couple brought my thoughts back down to earth. I watched as Bella walked back down the aisle, as did many other single men.