Page 26 of From Grumpy to Forever
“Is Reid ever really happy?” Preston ducked out of the way of my fist. “Seriously, bro. We’re happy. Even if it is a ridiculously quick engagement. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“I bet Mom’s pretty excited.”
That was the other big factor I hadn’t given enough consideration. Mom. I blew out a breath and grabbed a bun from the basket Brody was setting out. “Yeah, I haven’t told Mom yet.” I tore off a piece. “I thought I’d wait until she came up to visit this fall.”
“This fall? Is that when the wedding will be?”
Fuck.
I stuffed the piece in my mouth and dropped the rest of the bun on the plate.
“Reid?”
“About that,” I finally said. “I actually can’t stay tonight because…well, tomorrow’s the big day and I?—”
“What the fuck?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Is she knocked up?”
The room erupted into chaos with everyone speaking at once.
I waited until my brothers quieted down a bit before offering up a little more information. “No, Avery isn’t pregnant.” We would have had to have sex for that to happen. And as much as my evenings were filled with fantasies of that very thing, that’s all they’d been—fantasies. “We just don’t want to wait.” I slowly backed away from the table. “It’s not a big deal or anything. We’re just going to have a small thing at the courthouse for now. Maybe we’ll have a big reception in a few months.”
We had no intention of having a big party because if everything went according to plan, the marriage would be dissolved by then. But if this was going to work, we had to keep up appearances. They had to believe it. Everyone did.
After returning to the inn yesterday, Avery and I had gone over the plan, such as it was. And we’d decided it was easier not to tell anyone the truth. Especially in a town this size. It had to remain a secret if it was going to work. At least until all the papers were signed and the inn was legally hers.
“We’re not very traditional.”
All four of my brothers stared at me in silence and for the first time, I thought maybe I was going to be called on my immense amount of bullshit.
Finally, it was Brody who spoke first. “That actually seems pretty on-brand for you, Reid. I’ll be honest. I didn’t expect to ever see this day at all. But this adds up.”
Preston nodded in agreement, and Ethan shrugged. “He’s not wrong. And hell, the only thing that matters is that the two of you are happy.”
“I appreciate that.” I accepted his offer of a quick hug. “Really, Ethan. Thanks, man.”
Brody and Preston followed suit, offering me their well wishes, and then it was just Grayson.
“I’ll walk you out.” He moved past me before I could object.
With a wave to the rest of my brothers, I followed Grayson out to the porch, bracing myself.
The screen door slapped shut behind me. “Hey, about all of this…I’m really?—”
“You’ll need a witness tomorrow.” His jaw twitched.
I could see there was so much he wanted to say. The fact that he didn’t was a testament to our relationship and the trust between us.
Trust that I was fucking with.
I hoped like hell he’d understand.
“Two o’clock. At the courthouse.”
Grayson nodded. “I’ll be there.”
