Page 66 of Impending Consent

There was a moment of silence and I could picture Gray assessing Rival, trying to determine his sincerity.

"Good. Then welcome to the family, man. Good fucking luck because you’re one of us now."

They both laughed and I heard movement so I quickly retreated, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. I hurried back to the dining room, replaying the conversation.

Rival said he wanted me to be happy. He gave Gray his word that he wouldn't hurt me and the most unsettling part of all this? I believed him.

I slipped back into the dining room, trying to appear casual despite the war of emotions I was experiencing.

"Everything alright?" my mother asked, watching me carefully.

"Fine. Just getting some air." She nodded then glanced at my father who was approaching.

“I’ll let you two talk.”

Wonderful…

“A minute?” He motioned to the hallway and I sighed but moved with him behind me. Once we were there, he angled his head to the side.

“Did you really marry that man…”

“Rival. My husband,” I corrected and my father grunted.

“Did you really marry him because he refused to sleep with you?”

“Yes.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t get you. What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

I sighed. “Yes, I’m great. I’m spoiled, selfish, and currently dealing with the consequences of my actions.”

“Do you want me to…”

“No, I don’t.” I shook my head. “When I said I’m grown, I meant it. I did this, I’ll deal with it.”

“And what about your siblings?”

I frowned. “I’m staying in this to make sure they’re not touched. It’s one year. I can do this. It could be worse.”

He snorted again. “Is he, are the two of you…how are things there at his house?”

I barked a laugh because this was my father making sure I hadn’t married some horrible, insane person who might be harmful to me. At least he cared.

“Rival is a good guy. A really good guy. Better than I deserve honestly…”

The truth gut punched.

My father shook his head and lifted my chin so our eyes met. “That’s not true, sweetheart. You’re an amazing woman, brilliant, caring, also selfish.” He smiled. “But you deserve happiness. You deserve a man who truly loves you, and if that’s this guy, then fine, if it’s not…”

“I’m good, Daddy,” I said softly and he stared at me for a moment longer before he nodded and pulled me into a hug.

“I love you, Sail.”

“I love you too.”

“I’m still not going to accept this, so don’t expect me to be nice to him anytime soon. I need to know for sure who this man is.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yep, I expect exactly that.”

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