Page 24 of Royal Beast
Rose runs for the play area as I settle on one of the squishy benches around the outer edge, watching as my daughter launches herself onto a plastic slide shaped like a dinosaur, climbing with the kind of fervor only an excitable three-year-old can possess.
“Careful!” I say, watching as she almost elbows another child, a sandy-haired boy who grabs her arm, little teeth bared. I jump up at the same time as the woman sitting next to me. She flies forward, picking her child up before he can sink his teeth into Rose.
“I am so sorry!” she says to me. “AJ, we don’t bite other kids! Remember?”
Rose turns, putting her hands on her hips. “Yeah, no biting!” she states firmly. I hover nearby, making sure that Rose doesn’t try a counter-attack. I give the woman an apologetic smile.
“It happens,” I offer. “I’m sorry my daughter almost knocked him over.”
“I’m sorry too,” the woman says with a nervous-sounding chuckle. She turns and scolds the boy in a low voice before letting him scamper off again. Rose goes back to playing on the slide, troubles forgotten.
“I’m Darcy,” I offer as she settles back down next to me.
“Gigi,” she says, giving me a tight smile. “Sorry again about my son. AJ is learning not to bite other kids when he gets upset.”
“Kids go through phases,” I offer, waving it off. “Rose was a hair-puller for about a month. It was… interesting, to say the least.”
Gigi laughs, her shoulders relaxing as she watches AJ join Rose on the dinosaur slide. “Parenthood is basically survival mode. I swear, half the time, I’m just grateful we make it through the day without a meltdown. Alex, my husband, he’s a saint, honestly. He can calm AJ down in a minute. The two of them areinseparable.” Her eyes soften, and I can see just how much she adores her husband.
I nod, forcing a smile. It’s rare to see someone so happy in their marriage. She’s lucky. “You’re really close with him, huh?”
“Oh, absolutely,” she replies, her face lighting up. “He’s been my rock from day one. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had our ups and downs, but I know he’d do anything for us. And I’d do the same for him. You know how it is.”
I nod again, my throat tight. Hearing Gigi talk about her marriage is what I wanted, what I imagined a marriage should be—built on loyalty, love, and respect. I glance back at Rose, watching her laugh as she tries to keep up with AJ, who’s scrambling up a foam ramp like it’s the top of Mount Everest.
A bitter thought forms, one I can’t ignore. I married Kellan thinking I could handle his world and convinced myself that I was strong enough to make it work if it meant keeping Rose safe. But seeing Gigi’s happiness and hearing how her husband brings out the best in her, how he supports her, makes me realize how rash, how utterly impulsive I was. Kellan is dangerous. He operates by his own rules, and I’ve fallen right into his grip.
Agreeing to marry him could be the worst decision I’ve ever made. If I stay with him, I’m kidding myself to think it could ever look anything like Gigi’s life. I’m in over my head, trying to fit into a life that was never meant for me or Rose.
Gigi’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “So, are you married?” she asks, a friendly curiosity in her eyes.
I clear my throat, trying to sound casual. “Yes, just recently, actually.”
Her eyes light up. “Congratulations! That’s exciting.”
“Yeah… exciting,” I murmur, forcing a tight smile. “It was a little bit of a last-minute decision.”
“Oh, goodness!” Gigi says, then giggles. “That’s so romantic. Have you known each other long?”
“Four years,” I say, omitting the fact that the extent of our relationship was a one-night stand and a wedding that was nothing more than a business deal.
Gigi leans back, settling into a comfortable position as her eyes brighten. “Four years, huh? That’s a long time. How did you two meet?”
I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to go too deep into my own story. Instead, I force a smile, shrugging. “We met through work. You know, business connections and all that.”
Gigi’s smile widens, clearly excited to talk more. “I love hearing about couples who have that kind of foundation. It’s so nice when you can build something solid together, you know? Ironically, Alex and I met while I was on a bad blind date, but we didn’t start seeing each other right away.” She laughs softly, shaking her head. “I didn’t think I’d end up with someone like him. He’s so logical, so rational. I’m a bit more impulsive. But I can’t imagine not having him by my side. Like I said, he’s my rock.”
Her words hit me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I try to hold it together, forcing a smile as I glance over at Rose, who’s chasing AJ around in circles.
I feel a sharp pang in my chest, realizing the weight of my decision to tie myself to Kellan. I’m not the impulsive type. I always think everything through so carefully. But now I’m married to him, married, permanently, to a man I barely know and don’t trust at all. And I can’t just walk away.
I glance over to see a big grin on Rose’s face as she gently taps AJ on the shoulder.
“Tag, you’re it!” she yells. AJ turns and chases after her.
If I stay with Kellan, is that what it will be like? An endless game of chase, of pushing and pulling against each other? Gigi must sense the shift in my mood because she nudges me.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice gentle.
