Page 64 of Otto: The Hawthornes

“No,” he replied quickly, still scowling. “Are those Aunt Farrah’s boots?”

“Mind your business,” his aunt shot back.

“We’re heading out,” Heather announced, ignoring Otto’s scowl. “I’ll see you back at the house for dinner.”

“Be careful,” Otto ordered.

“You know we will,” one of his sisters-in-law said soothingly, patting his back as they started to file out of the room.

“I’ll see you later, yeah?” Otto said quietly, moving in close.

“Do I look ridiculous?”

“You look beautiful,” he replied. “Just different.”

“Different bad?” I hadn’t been able to look in a mirror and by his response to the changes his family had made, I was seriously concerned that I looked even stranger than normal.

“Just different,” he countered. He leaned down and kissed me.

Good grief, would I ever get used to that?

“I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay,” I breathed, staring at him like an idiot.

“Alright, lovebirds,” his mom interrupted. “Let’s go.”

I took a step back from Otto and turned to follow her toward the door.

“Get a dress, yeah? A white one,” Otto called out as we left.

Chapter 10

Otto

“Ithought theywere on their way back,” I muttered, looking up at the clock.

We’d been sitting in my parents’ kitchen, drinking beer and killing time for the last hour. Thankfully, all of us boys knew how to cook and dinner was warming on the stove, because the women were a lot later than they said they’d be.

“Talked to Bishop not fifteen minutes ago, and he said they’re fine,” my dad replied easily. “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

“Not sure why we didn’t send a member with them,” I muttered. “Bishop’s a fuckin’ civilian.”

“Bishop’s family,” my dad countered, flicking his beer cap at me. “And we didn’t want a member out with them, callin’ attention to the group.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You’re such a worrywart,” Rumi joked, leaning back in his chair. “They’re fine.”

I’d understood why they’d chosen to go shopping immediately. They were trying to distract my bride from all the shit that was happening behind the scenes, with the added bonus of getting to know her and delicately getting information from her without her realizing it. That didn’t mean that I was stoked they’d been gone all fucking day.

“Esther’s probably fuckin’ exhausted,” I argued. “She’s had a hell of a day.”

“Understatement,” my dad murmured. “Poor thing.”

“You’re really gonna marry her, huh?” Rumi asked seriously.

“I’m really gonna marry her,” I confirmed.

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