Page 48 of Father of the Bride

“I ain’t leavin’. Not ‘til we talk.”

She crossed her arms, planting her feet firmly on the rug. “Fine. Say what you have to say.”

And make it quick, she thought. She had penis waiting for her in the casita.

“I miss you.” He sat at the foot of the bed, swaying a little as he straightened his robe. “I know I fucked up, but I miss the hell outta you, Sunny.”

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“Our family could be…a family again.”

“You’re drunk,” she said.

“I ain’t that drunk.” His voice lowered. “I think I might end things with Fallon.”

She recoiled like he’d just slapped her across the face. The first six months after they split were spent wishing she could hear those words, preceded by a genuine apology. But Orion never bothered. He didn’t think he had anything to apologize for. At a certain point, Sunny realized there was no going back, and she put all of her energy into healing and moving the hell on.

So these words coming out of his mouth at this moment sounded more like afuck youthan a declaration of love.

“It’s true,” he said, watching her carefully. “I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on us.”

She scoffed at the audacity.

Sunny wanted to leave it alone. She was already late to her dick appointment. But her anger continued to bloom, driving her to push back.

“Bullshit,” she said. “The only reason you’re saying this is because your son handed you your ass a few hours ago.”

“Whatever, Sunny.”

“Admit it! You don’t want me back. You want your image back. The family man. The loving husband, the proud and doting father. You want the Instagram life without doing the fucking work, but that’s not how it goes.” She stopped to catch her breath, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m done smiling for the Gram so you can look like you have a happy family.”

Because that’s what she’d done, even after she found out about Fallon. They even took Christmas pictures in matching pajamas. Looked perfect. Hundreds of comments about their beautiful family. Meanwhile, Sunny was depressed and miserable, and her husband didn’t give a single fuck.

“That ship has sailed,” she said as she walked away from him toward the door. “And you sank it.”

Orion flinched like she’d dealt him a physical blow.

She opened the door and pointed to the hallway. “I’m going to bed. You need to do the same.”

His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“You fuckin’ around with somebody?”

She didn’t answer. She no longer had to answer those questions. She simply stared at him until he muttered a curse and staggered out into the hallway.

Now, she was late.

She waited a few minutes before she tiptoed out of her room, her body buzzing with adrenaline and lust as she moved through the quiet villa and out toward the path behind the main house.

The casita was cloaked in shadow, which was fitting given the fact that they were meeting in secret. Moonlight spilled across her path, illuminating tendrils of smoke from the dying bonfire down on the beach.

Mark was already inside when she slipped through the door, shirtless and fine and laying in the bed.

“I see you didn’t waste any time,” she teased as she slipped her sandals off.

“Time is a finite resource." He watched her slide the strap of her coverup down her shoulder. “But you can slow that down for me.”

He propped an arm under his head, his lips curving into a slow, sneaky smile as she slowed her movements.

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