Page 15 of A Different Husband

She shook her head. “To be honest, I hate the engagement ring Beckett got me. The setting sticks out too far and snagged on everything. I ruined two sweaters and scratched a couple of the kids with it by accident. Besides, Beckett always complained about how messy I got it. I’m an art teacher and an artist. There were always paint speckles and bits of clay that clung to it before I was able to clean it all up.”

“We’ve already established that my cousin is an idiot. I’d be proud to see those paint speckles because it meant you didn’t want to take it off even when you knew things might get messy.” I hated that it was Beckett’s ring we were talking about in that context, but I hoped that one day she might feel the same about mine.

Courtney didn’t respond, but the way her eyes softened on me made me wonder what she was thinking. Unfortunately, mind reading wasn’t one of my abilities.

“Are you two going to stand in the corner being secretive all night, or join the party?”

I glanced up to see Courtney’s parents standing there. Her mom’s question had been a bit snippy, which I didn’t understand.

“Mom?” Courtney questioned.

“You’re being rude. Your guests…”

“Are here to celebrate our marriage. I think they’ll understand that we needed a few moments to ourselves.” My wife’s shoulders stiffened with obvious tension. “What is your problem exactly?”

“It’s nothing,” Her father answered instead. “Your mom is under a little stress.”

“What kind of stress could you be under that you would come over here and insult my husband and me on our wedding day.”

“It wasn’t an insult,” Courtney’s dad tried to explain again.

“Her tone suggests otherwise, Dad.”

My eyes bounced back and forth between Courtney and her parents as I tried to understand the new dynamic. I’d never seen them be anything but supportive of their daughter in the past. Then again, I supposed she was doing what they wanted before.

“It was so embarrassing to have Beckett show up and cause a scene. I think that if you two mingled more, people would forget about it.”

I glanced around. No one seemed put off by the events during our wedding. “Everyone seems to be having a good time,” I mentioned.

“That’s what they want you to think. They’re all talking about it.” Courtney rolled her eyes at her mother’s assessment, but Ifelt the way her body tightened even further with her mother’s implications.

“Listen, Jill,” I said in a warning tone. “We don’t give two shits what anyone here thinks of Beckett’s little performance earlier. That’s a Beckett problem and doesn’t reflect on us. If you think it does, then you are welcome to leave our party and go find Beckett, so the two of you can commiserate together. What you’re not going to do is ruin our reception, or my wife’s good mood, with your bullshit.”

Courtney’s father, Reed, grinned at me and then pulled his wife into his side. “It’s getting late for us older folks,” He winked as if the words he spoke weren’t the truth. “I wanted to congratulate you both, wish you the best moving forward, and…” He hesitated then, but looked me in the eye with a stern expression plastered to his face where the jovial one had been moments again. “I also came to warn you to be good to my baby girl, but I see that won’t be an issue.”

“No, sir. She’s my priority now.”

“Good. Keep it that way.” Reed warned as he turned and pulled his wife away before she could say something to ruin the moment. Once they were gone, Courtney released a heavy sigh.

“Thank you for standing up to her. Normally, I would just brush it off or tell her to stop, but sometimes when I push back, she gets louder.”

“Your mom has her priorities a little messed up.”

“Trust me, she’ll be riddled with guilt over it later. Sometimes, her emotions get the best of her and things don’t always come out the way they should.”

“Nemesis takes the back seat when Mom is involved. Good to know. I don’t mind being the bad guy with your mother if she needs to be put in her place, sweetheart.”

Courtney smiled and wrapped her arms around me. I pulled her in and tucked her close to offer her the comfort and warmthshe needed. She felt so fucking good in my arms that I never wanted to let go. When my wife pulled back, I reluctantly let her go.

“She was right about one thing, though. We do need to go mingle more and thank people for coming.”

I scoffed out a half laugh at that. “They should be thanking us. You know half these assholes only showed up in the hopes of seeing some drama.”

“Oh my God! You are so right! My Aunt Peggy wouldn’t have come otherwise. She didn’t even RSVP to the wedding when it was supposed to be with Beckett. Her showing up is probably what really sent my mom into a tizzy. Her sister has always been a judgy beast.”

“We should put on a show for her then. Make her wonder how you were ever engaged to another man just a couple weeks ago when we’re obviously so madly in love with one another.” I was teasing her, mostly because I knew she didn’t feel that way about me, even if my feelings were a little more on the nose.

“Let’s do this,” Courtney announced as she held out her hand to me. “Do you know how to dirty dance, like in the movie?”

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