Page 6 of To Build a Home
“Whoa, whoa,” I tried to say as calmly as possible but failed because I could hear the quiver in my voice. “Married? What are you talking about?”
Joel reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. No, no, no, he couldn’t be serious right now. Where was this coming from?
“Hold on, okay? Talk to me about what happened with your parents. How did you go from telling your parents about the baby to proposing?”
“Well, they took it—umm, their response was giving me this ring to give to you.”
Wait, what?
“So you told them we’re having a baby, and they gave you a ring?” I was thinking maybe a crib or a stroller, not a fucking ring.
“They’re not exactly thrilled about the news. You know how they are.” He shrugged, and it took all my effort to not scream at him, “No I don’t know how they are.” But I kept my mouth shut as he continued.
“But they said that since we got ourselves into this mess, the only other thing left for us to do was get married. No grandchild of theirs was going to be born out of wedlock.”
Born out of wedlock? Who the hell says that anymore these days—Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, I guess. Did that mean they want a shotgun wedding?I stared at him, not even sure how to respond to that. I would never,evercall this baby “a mess.”
“Don’t you wanna marry me?” For the first time since arriving, Joel showed a hint of emotion, but it almost felt like annoyance that I wasn’t jumping for joy at the idea of getting married right away.
“I mean, yeah, sure, maybe one day.” Did I seriously see us walking down the aisle? Maybe. But then again, I didn’t see us having a baby so fast either. I nibbled on my bottom lip.
“Is it ideal?” He shrugged again. “No, not really, but I love you, so what do you say?” He opened the ring box, revealing a simple diamond ring with a rose-gold band. “Marry me, Payton.” I waited for him to drop to one knee, but he never did.
I tried to process everything he’d just said. He was right. We loved each other, and that was all that mattered, which was why I nodded to Joel. He slipped the ring on my finger and pressed his lips to mine. I enjoyed kissing Joel. I did. It wasn’t that end-of-the-world kissing that you always saw in movies. Never once had I ever gotten to experience that, so I just always assumed they were Hollywood dramatics.
“Alright, I gotta go.” Joel stood as if it were just any other day.
“Go? But shouldn’t we celebrate or something?”
“I’ve got plans, but I’ll call you later, and we can go to dinner. Okay?”
I wasn’t sure I could hide my disappointment, but I tried my best and gave a weak smile. “Sure.”
Joel shouted, “Love you,” as he walked out the door and left almost as fast as he’d proposed.
What the hell just happened? Did that seriously just happen? Were we engaged? I stared down at the ring now on my finger.Holy shit, it’s real.
I placed my hand over my stomach and smiled. “Did you hear that, peanut? Mommy and Daddy are getting married.” I squealed. “And they lived happily ever after.”
Until they didn’t.
Tears fill my eyes that I refuse to let spill. I’m thankful Archer is on the other side of the office, showing Gabby photos on the wall.
I quickly toss the paperwork onto the desk and rise. “Hey, I forgot something in my car. Can you—”
“I’ve got her,” Archer confirms, glancing over his shoulder, but I’m out of view before he can see the emotion clouding my face. Instead of turning left and heading back out to the front where my car is to actually keep up the facade, I step to the right and quickly escape out the back door.
I lean against the brick exterior wall and try to even my breathing. Fuck, out of all the memories to hit my mind, why that one? Why now? God, I was so stupid to think that it could last after a shotgun proposal like that. Within the month, we were married, and in under nine months, Gabby was born, and we were already over.
Fuck him. I can’t let him control me like that. We’re free of the hurt and havoc he wreaked in our lives. It’s time to take back the power and not let these moments break me. I’m stronger than this—if I keep telling myself that, then it’s bound to be true eventually, I think.
Chapter 4
Rhyland
My focus is on the paper in front of me that lists the specials for the week that Archer had asked for earlier as I push through the door from the kitchen. My feet move of their own accord toward his office, and when I enter the open door, I stop dead in my tracks with my mouth gaped open.
“Where the heck did you find a baby?” I tease, seeing Archer is the only one in the office with Gabby in one arm and using some sort of cloth to wipe at the huge stain on his shirt that definitely wasn’t there earlier today when I saw him.
