Hailey blows out an exhausting breath before she claws her hair from exasperation.
We knew this was probably coming, it’s just sitting through the experience is a little excruciating, even if it will soon be over and we get the hell out of here.
“You two are so unhinged that I don’t even what to do right now.” Carter isn’t cooling off in the slightest.
“What am I supposed to do in this moment?” Liam asks, slightly bewildered.
Hailey’s eyes bug out as her hands fall, causing hair to cascade behind her shoulders. “Nothing. You need to do nothing. I’m a big girl who makes her own decisions. Oliver is my husband, and I’m his wife”
Rubbing my face with my hands, we’re going in circles. The sun is disappearing over the tree line due to sunset, but I’m beginning to believe the sun is running away from watching this scene unfold.
“Don’t make me disappointed in you for your choices,” Carter drills into me.
Our mom begins to tug his arm. “Come on, stop it.”
I hold my palm up to encourage my mom to leave it. “It’s fine. I’m a man. I can handle what my brother would like to voice so openly. After all, he’s the one so wise on the topic of marriage.”
Fuck, that was a little low for my standards.
The boiling anger on Carter’s face turns fuming at record speed and fists form at his sides. If he had it in him, he would shove me right now, but that’s just not him. Instead, his nostrils flare before he pivots and storms off.
My mom lifts a finger in the air. “I should probably follow him.” She scans the area and pauses on Hailey, a smile tugging on my mother’s mouth. “I guess I’ll be setting an extra plate at our next family dinner.” She attempts to make a joke, but it falls flat. Realizing that, she adds, “I think we should all give the apparent newlyweds some space and interrogate them another time. Well, actually, sooner than later, but not now.” She offers Hailey a sympathetic look before she walks away.
I turn to face Hailey in the still silence of the boat. “I’m sorry, I think the party mood has changed.”
She musters up a tiny smile on her face. “It’s okay. At least, my brother isn’t going to murder you.”
Liam scoffs from the sidelines. “Still debatable, but I’m not going to have a meltdown at least.”
“This has been unexpected.” Esme hums a sound as she leans against the railing, and she looks into the empty glasses in her hands before setting them on the nearby table. “What a honeymoon you two have found yourselves in. We can all agree that the party is over. Oliver, your birthday present is over by the bar.” She propels herself off the railing and gestures her hand as a phone and mouths something to Hailey.
Liam takes a few steps to us, and he has softened to us. “I think… just give it some time… for me, I mean. Carter?” His face turns contorted. “That’s going to take a little more maybe. I’ll be in touch and maybe then I can congratulate you both.”
“Thanks.” Hailey sighs. Liam touches her shoulder gently in passing as he leaves.
With guests dispersing, Hailey and I face one another.
“I’m sorry. Being married just kind of spilled out of my mouth.”
Her shoulders lift, and she touches my upper arms with a little squeeze for reassurance which puts me in admiration because she should be a complete mess right now.
“Bound to happen. And I don’t think you and I go as planned. That seems to be our thing.” The way she describes us causes me to tighten the line on my mouth with an urge to smile. “Well, that was confronting.” She is trying to lighten the mood, even if it’s the truth. "Probably time to address our situation.”
“I, uh, guess we have a lot to talk about, but I’m not sure my energy is there.”
She nods in understanding. We both grow quiet until it seems a lightbulb goes off in her head. “I’ll be right back.”
“Not going anywhere, especially the parking lot,” I retort.
While she is away, I take the opportunity to look out on the river that is slowly turning dark from the change of daylight. The sound of the current sending tiny little waves is a comforting noise.
It’s all unraveling.
The mess I got us in. I had to go and make it so complicated. At least it’s one thing off my chest. It’s a few minutes later when I’m now alone on the empty deck that I hear Hailey approaching from behind me.
“Turn around,” she requests.
Instantly, I smile as she is holding a chocolate cake that seems to have seen hell, topped with a lit candle. Her hand is cupped around one side so the wind won’t ruin her attempts to turn this evening around.
