I stagger down the hall, only to meet with Logan’s wild eyes as he grabs ahold of my hand.
I heard.He squeezes his eyes shut.
We enter the family room, peppered with every Landon present and accounted for, the kids all running wild while Bree curses at Beau to stand between her and Drake. Marshall gives a curt nod my way as if he, too, were apprised of the malfeasance and I want to scream. I want to grab that overgrown crystal vase filled with long stem blood red roses sitting on the table and smash it over Gage and Chloe.
Bree yanks me forward and lands me next to the beast herself. “My two besties in the whole entire world are standing up for me today.”
Drake grunts, “Yo, Ethan. Get your ass over here and stand next to me. I don’t like looking like a loser.”
Ethan belches so loud the windows vibrate. “You are a loser.”
Tad stands next to my mother and I can’t help but note how odd his hair looks. His face and exposed arms look unnaturally tan and he’s donned some strange holey mess as if he forgot to get dressed properly this morning, but I don’t give a flying anything about Tad’s accoutrements at the moment. Instead, I take up Chloe’s hand and her eyes move my way, silent in one fell swoop like a ventriloquist’s dummy.
You little bitch—I start easy—you are a Celestra. How dare you let Gage get away with the shit he’s doing. Somewhere deep down in that dark, bitter, twisted briar patch of a heart, I thought you still cared for our people.
Chloe flinches, but I tighten my grip over her hand and note that both Gage and Logan’s eyes are glued to our conjoined fingers.
Yes, Skyla. I am a Celestra and I will be until the day I die. But I am also Gage Oliver’s wife. We have an understanding to leave Faction business at the door.
Now it’s me flinching as I shoot a quick look to Gage. That’s what we were supposed to do, and look where it got us.
It didn’t work out so well for me, Chloe,I say.Don’t deceive yourself into thinking it will for you either. He’s using you. I don’t know why or how, but you are a pawn. This is not real. It cannot be. Something far more nefarious is afoot, Chloe. Take a good look at those boys wrestling it out on the sofa.I nod to Nathan and Barron, and even Gage and Logan turn to look. Logan goes over and settles them a moment for me.Gage left them. He left me. He gave it all up for you? No offense, but I think maybe it’s time you did a reality check. Nothing good is going to come of your union with him. It is all a lie.
Chloe’s hand grips mine with an insurmountable crushing strength and I moan as I yank myself free.
She snatches it right back up again, softer this time as if she were through teaching me a lesson.
Don’t you ever tell me that this child I’m growing in my body is a lie. I will defend both my marriage and my baby to the death, Skyla.
I bury a laugh in my chest.Funny, Gage used to say the same about our family. And believe me, he did it with a lot more zest. Think about your people, Chloe. I’m not asking you to leave Gage or work with me. I’m asking you to dig deep and decide for yourself if you care at all for Celestra anymore. And if the answer is no, just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working beautifully for Gage.
I let go just as Marshall pronounces them husband and wife and they share an awkward kiss, much to the whooping approval of Darla.
Tad claps as if he’s witnessed the second coming. “That’s my boy. And now I’d like to shower my son and my beautiful daughter-in-law with gifts.” He swipes a few small boxes off the mantel and shoves the first one at Drake. “A lock of Elvis Presley’s hair I purchased off eBay just for you. It cost me a mint. Hang on to it, kid. It will only go up in value.”
I glance to Gage in horror, mostly out of habit. I’m sure Gage couldn’t care less about Tad Landon’s bad spending habits. Instead, I step between Logan and Marshall.
“How much do you think he spent on that?” I whisper as Darla and Brookelynn gather around the lucky couple to see their new follicular loot.
Marshall’s chest bucks with the idea of a laugh. “More than it’s worth.”
Tad looks over and sneers our way. “One hundred cool grand. And it was a steal. I’ve researched it, and it could be worth millions.”
Could bebeing the operative words.
I pick up Logan’s hand.He didn’t win that much combined. This is a disaster.
Gage sighs over at him. “Why don’t you hire a good accountant? Or better yet, let me manage your winnings for you. The government—”
Tad chokes audibly. “Ah! Neither you nor the government is a part of this family, so you can take your advice and shove it up your brand new father-in-law’s pants. I don’t need it.”
For once I agree with Tad. Sort of. A horrible sadness washes over me at the thought of Gage having a whole new set of in-laws. I hate this.
Logan gives my hand a squeeze.I hate this, too.
“Mommy!” Barron tackles my legs and gives my sweater a hard tug. “Natey is stucks.” His little dimples dip in and out and my heart melts at the sight of him. And how I love that he wants me to help his brother. Normally, he’d kick him and laugh, but ultimately he’d help hisNateyhimself.
“Okay, let’s help get Natey unstuck.” I give a quick wink to Logan. “I’ll be right back.”
