Page 35 of War Games

When I was too stunned to reply, Dirk grinned.

“Was that a good enough explanation of how Landon and I are doing?” He started walking away, leaving me reeling from the sudden turnaround from the drama over the weekend.

13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The rest of the day was a blur for me, but it was fine. Dirk drove. He helped me get through questioning the others we had to visit and was able to pay attention to his nose for lies. I tried to look out for him as he took the lead.

“Are you going to be like this tomorrow, or will the shock wear off by then?” he asked when we got in the truck for the last time, knowing our hotel was the next stop.

“I will be fine by tomorrow.” The reality was that I was vibrating with the need to tell Heath, but with Dirk next to me all day, I couldn’t do that yet. They were planning on going to a courthouse and secretly getting married without telling anyone. I couldn’t believe it, but I could understand the reason. There was something about the ring that made things more. A real reminder. I was wearing my engagement ring most days, always able to look at it and think of Heath. When it wasn’t on my finger, it was on a chain to wear as a necklace. I understood it so well. It seemed a little fast, considering they had fought for several days, but if this was what they thought they needed to remember their promises to each other, then I would stand behind it.

But I can’t tell anyone while we’re sitting in the damn truck.

So, I waited. We got to the hotel late, and once we were checked in, Dirk said he was going to shower, then would figure out dinner for us. I was supposed to look over everyone we were meeting the next day, but instead, I called Heath.

“Yes, darling?” His warm voice washed over me, but it didn’t calm me today.

“Dirk and Landon are engaged and planning to get married at the courthouse,” I said, the words flying out of my mouth.

“Huh?”

“Dirk and Landon want to get married,” I repeated, hoping he was just having a hard time hearing me. He wasn’t. He didn’t suffer from a lick of hearing loss.

“Um…”

“Heath, Dirk said they are getting married at a courthouse! Landon asked him yesterday morning!” I said, trying to keep my voice down so Dirk couldn’t hear me in the other room.

“I, uh…” My fiancé was too stunned for words. That was the third time I had told him, and for the third time, he couldn’t form a full and proper sentence in response.

“Is this okay? Are they in the position to get married? I know mate bonds are permanent, but doesn’t this feel a little… rash?”

“Well…” Heath blew out air. “Weddings are more common in times of war and potential fighting… things like that…”

“Okay, so we let them go to a courthouse and do this. I mean, I don’t know if we should be stopping them. That’s why I’m saying something to you.”

“I think… I will be upset if my son gets married and I’m not there,” Heath continued, choosing his words with obvious care that made me think he was jumping some real mental hurdles to piece together his sentences. “So, I will talk to Landon about that.”

“Okay, see. I think Carey should be able to see her brother get married. And Niko! He and Dirk are just getting closer again, and Niko is out of the state. We need to get him back.”

“They clearly don’t see the need to plan an entire wedding…” Heath cleared his throat. “We’re not going to ask them to do that. I’ll talk to Landon, though, about making sure family gets to see them tie the knot. Just a few close members of our families.”

“Yeah…” I nodded, accepting that.

Oh my God, they’re getting married.

“Jacky, I know you’re telling Heath,” Dirk called through the connecting door. “Why are you like this?”

“You caught me off guard. Of course, I’m going to talk to my fiancé about how his son has gotten engaged without telling anyone,” I said back, now trying to be loud enough for Dirk to hear but not upset all the other patrons of the hotel. “You didn’t think you two were going to pull this off without at least inviting Niko or Carey or, God forbid, your Alpha, Landon’s father, did you?”

Heath choked on noise as I snapped at Dirk.

“We would have said something over this weekend,” Dirk said, groaning. “Please don’t make this a big deal.”

“If it’s a big deal to you and Landon, why can’t it be a big deal to us?” I demanded.

“Jacky, please settle down. This is a good thing. We need something happy to celebrate after so much has happened in recent months… in recent years, actually.” Heath was finally over his own shock.

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