“No,” I reply, my one word strong enough to stop anyone in their tracks.
“So, after just one week together, you’ve just decided that you want to spend the rest of your lives together?”
“Yes,” Leon jumps in.
“I can’t deal with this.” Ash scratches at his beard, and I can tell he’s doing his best not to lose it.
I put him in his place. “Ash, you don’t get to tell me or Leon what to do. This is our life, and whether you like it or not, I’m a grown woman who makes her own decisions. I don’t need you to babysit me all the time.”
Leon loops his arms around my waist and pulls me into his side. “She’s right, and you know how I feel about your sister. I’ve loved her since I was old enough to understand what that felt like.”
“You two knuckleheads should stop drinking together. It fucks up your brain cells,” Ash replies, thinking he knows everything.
“Oh, shut up, Ash,” I snap like an angry crocodile.
Lily’s voice then appears. “Ash, what the hell are you doing? I hope you didn’t tell them to release a press announcement. I told you it was none of your business.” Loud footsteps grow closer to the phone as she stomps toward Ash, my brother’s face turning sheepish and embarrassed. “And I thought I told you to leave them alone. Give me that phone.” Lily’s voice gets louder, then there’s a scuffle before she bosses my brother around. “Make yourself useful. Blaze needs a shower; he got into my purse and has covered himself in my lipstick, and Grace just ate a worm and now feels sick.” Her tone changes as her face fills the screen, looking younger than when my brother first met her. I think the aging process is skipping her. “You two have fun,enjoy the honeymoon, and have the best time consummating the marriage. That’s if you haven’t already done that.” She giggles.
“Lily,” Ash barks from somewhere we can’t see.
“Oh, shut up, Ash. Your sister’s not a nun. Congratulations, guys. I want to hear all about Bora Bora when you get back. See you in two weeks,” Lily says brightly before blowing us a kiss. “And Leon, in case Ash forgot to say it. Welcome to the family.” She taps the screen, ending the call.
“I love my sister-in-law.” I admire all five foot four of her and how she keeps my foot taller than her brother in check.
“She’s my sister-in-law now too,” Leon says, smiling.
This is crazy, and I can already picture us all together this Christmas.
“I love you and your family, Erika.” Leon reinforces how much he’s committed to me, enveloping me in the warmest of hugs and caressing me in the best way possible. He’s already woven into our everyday lives like embroidery on the finest silk.
“You’re one of us now.” It’s endorsed by the Clark County Recorder’s Office.
Leon takes a minute as if thinking about what to say next. “I’ll contact Kali and ask her to release a statement from us both, or not, whatever you want.”
If we keep quiet for long enough, people will move on to something new, but I have a better idea. “I think I want everyone to know you’re mine just with a social media post though, not a press release. That seems too formal.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, or I wouldn’t have suggested it. I want the world to know that Leon Hill, former Eagles’ wingman, top sports agent in all of North America, and all-round good guy, who brings the calm to my stressful days, who is kind, generous, and more than I could have dreamed of, is my husband.”
“The public can be cruel. They’ll say nasty things about me and my past.”
“I don’t care about your past. I only care about our future, Leon.”
“You should have said those words as your wedding vows,” he says, his wide smile telling me how happy he is. It’s so dazzling, it makes me melt in my seat.
“Did we even do vows?” I ask, sifting through my memory for any hint of a clue, and come up with nothing. “And did we dance to “Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge?” A faint whisper of the past flashes through my mind, but it disappears as soon as I try to catch it. Maybe that song made us decide to tie the knot.
His shoulders bounce up and down with laughter. “I have no fucking idea. We could always do it all over again, properly this time, when we return to Canada,” he suggests.
“It’s what our moms would want. But I think we should have a party instead. We’re already married. I want to celebrate.”
His eyebrows fly into his hairline. “Which reminds me. We need to call your mom. Then my mom and dad.”
“I think we should have a couple of Jäger Bombs before we tackle those conversations.” I lay my hand over my stomach. The very thought makes me feel squeamish. What the hell will our parents say? Will they be happy or upset? I guess there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to call them.
“I’ve decided to go alcohol free for the next two weeks. My head is fucking killing me,” he says, digging his fingertips into his temples.
“Oh, I don’t know. I thought we could squeeze a few more shots in before we catch our flight. What could go wrong?”
