Page 36 of Trust Me With Forever

She didn’t even need to shout. We knew from growing up with her that you obeyedbeforeAunt Lori got angry. It was better for everyone that way.

Aunt Lori pointed to West’s empty chair. “I mean it, West. Sit your butt down or I’ll make you sit down. I may be older, but I’m strong enough to still twist your ear like the best of them.”

West pointed at Rafe. “Why the fuck are you on his side? You know what he did to Emmy.”

Aunt Lori clicked her tongue. “Watch your tone, lad. You’re not too old for me to put you in time out.”

West blinked, and I nearly laughed. Glancing down, I saw Rafe’s bewildered expression and I wished I could explain things to him. But in our family, Aunt Lori was the Queen. Her diminutive size meant nothing.

West stared but eventually sighed and threw up his hands. “Fine, I’ll sit.” He glared at Rafe. “But we’re going to have words, Mendoza. So don’t even think of running away.”

Rafe’s muscles tensed under my hand, and I knew he was restraining himself. For me.

Emmy moved to West’s side and took one of his hands. “Come on, West. Let’s listen to their story before jumping to conclusions. I, more than anyone, know not to do that again.”

She’d assumed for years that Rafe had blamed her for their parents’ death—and West knew that—my brother sighed, kissed her, and followed her back to his seat.

Once everyone was seated and quiet—even Avery and Wyatt, which was quite the miracle—Aunt Lori sipped her wine and gestured toward me and Rafe. “Tell us what happened, dears.”

Especially since you told me you’d never marry, Abby, was left unsaid.

Rafe whispered something to Wyatt, and he left his seat to sit on the far side of the table. I slid next to Rafe, and under the table, he took my hand and squeezed. I glanced at him, and heraised his eyebrows in question, offering to explain and take the heat. But I gave a nearly imperceptible shake of my head. If I didn’t explain myself now, my family would interrogate me later anyway.

So I focused on killing two birds with one stone. “Well, I think everyone knows I had a crush on Rafe as a kid. And while it faded over time, when he came back, I started talking with him again. And despite our arguments, my crush sort of came back.”

It wasn’t a complete lie, although Emmy raised her brows, which said she’d be asking me more questions in private later.

I quickly continued, “At any rate, I was struggling to figure out my life, and I decided an impromptu trip to Vegas might help. I had a friend from college I wanted to see who’d moved there, and I headed out. Except my car broke down before I’d even left Starry Hills.”

This much was true, and something I’d remembered in the days since waking up married to Rafe.

I looked at my husband. “Rafe saw me on the side of the road and…”

My throat tightened. I still couldn’t remember exactly what we’d said or why I’d gone with him, and I hated lying to my family. Could I really do it?

Rafe searched my gaze, must’ve seen something there, and picked up the story. “She’d been crying, and I asked her what was wrong.” I blinked, but Rafe didn’t give me a chance to ask if that was true as he barreled on. “I won’t break her confidence, but I offered to take her to Vegas and get her car fixed while she was away. She argued but eventually got into my car, and I drove her there. She offered to buy me dinner as a thank you, and we argued again.” He chuckled. “We do that a lot, but I don’t mind.”

Amusement danced in his gaze, and I rolled my eyes. Rafe merely shrugged and said, “Eventually the argument turnedheated, we kissed, and well…we ended up in a chapel and got hitched.”

West frowned and opened his mouth, but I beat him to it. “When I woke up and remembered what we’d done, it was definitely a surprise. However, there’s something between Rafe and me, and we decided to give this marriage a shot.” I glanced around the table. “But I want to figure out if our marriage can work without any meddling.” I peered hard at Aunt Lori. “I mean it.”

She put up her hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it, child.”

I narrowed my eyes, but my aunt had the most innocent expression on her face.

Oh no.She would meddle, no question.

Emmy spoke up, her voice quiet. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Since she’d lived with my family after her parents had died, we were a little closer than the rest of the BFF circle. Emmy had been my sister long before West had married her.

And right now, the hurt in her eyes was like a stab to my heart.

I wasn’t a coward, though, and spoke the truth. “I didn’t want to ruin your honeymoon period with West. Besides, it was still new, and Rafe and I needed to figure out our future. But I’m telling everyone now.” I moved my gaze to West. “And I hope you’ll at least try to be happy for us.”

West and I stared at each other for what felt like an hour but couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds. His gaze darted to Rafe and then back to me. “I’ll tolerate him, but that’s the best I can do right now, Abby.”

As I struggled to respond, Katie—bless her—raised her wine glass and said, “I think congratulations are in order. To Abby and Rafe!”

---