Page 18 of Chasing Clouds

“Not tonight, sir. She’s all mine tonight.” Reid looks down at me, smiles, and kisses the top of my head. “Do I have lipstick all over my face?” he asks.

Feeling emboldened, I quirk a mischievous smile, and he minutely raises his brows. “No. Darling, you know I prefer lip stains over lipsticks.”

One side of his mouth tips up. “I do know, but I’m just making sure.” He bends down and lightly kisses me again. I can feel the anger radiating off my father from across the room.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t come in here—” he yells, moving closer to us in an attempt to grab me by the arm, and I squeeze Reid’s hip, hard. He responds immediately and pulls me tighter against him.

“I can and I will,” he says, cutting my father off. “I’m her husband now, and unless you want us to leave and be rude to your guests, I suggest you take a step back.”

Reid is glaring at him, and I swear he’s grown three inches taller and two inches wider. He well outsizes my father, who, like the smart man he is, moves away from us.

I know people don’t see me as a strong and independent woman, but I’ve always thought I am. I know I am a people pleaser. I don’t like conflict, and I want to make others happy. I prefer to go with the flow and keep the harmony between us all rather than rock the boat. But, when needed, I’ve always been able to make decisions for myself and own them, just like today at the church. Standing here with the two of them in a face-off, though, now I don’t know. Maybe I’m not as independent as I thought I was. Securing my grip on Reid’s side, I willingly allow him to take over for me, to speak for me. What kind of person does that make me?

“All right now,” Grandfather says as he walks to stand in the middle of my father and Reid. “We’re here to celebrate tonight. We have a house full of guests and we’re going to remember that.” He looks pointedly at my father, his tone very much stating that all this needs to be handled another day when there aren’t one hundred and fifty sets of eavesdropping ears just outside these walls.

“Fine, but this isn’t over.” He pins me with a look I’m certain is meant to intimidate me, but I’m over it, completely done with his overbearing ways. I lengthen my spine instead of cowering, and I swear Reid beams with pride. I know I have some tough questions to ask myself about the type of person I am once the dust settles on all this, but I do know one thing: I will no longer be anyone’s doormat. I am not a pushover, and I refuse to allow people to treat me this way anymore.

Holding my head high, I release Reid’s side and reach for his hand. His fingers lock around mine and I pull for him to follow me. As we start to walk past my father, Reid stops us, and I know he needs to get the last word in. After all, my father did just issue a threat of more to come, and I can tell Reid doesn’t like this dynamic. He doesn’t like it at all.

My father’s eyes widen as Reid leans toward him a little, his nostrils flaring like a bull’s as he breathes in and out. If my father has any question about who he’s dealing with here, Reid squashes it immediately. He has no intention of ever letting my father have the upper hand.

“Stay away from us,” he growls. He doesn’t even need to say or else; it’s implied, and my father knows it.

Glancing once more at Grandfather, who is grinning at us, I shake my head in disbelief.

I never thought I’d be happy to say I’m glad I caught Patrick cheating on me, but I am. If I hadn’t walked in on him, I wouldn’t have met Reid, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like things just might be okay.

Remembering Reid’s words—just a few more hours—I grip his hand, pull us out of the room, and think to myself, Never again.

I KNEW WE’D get some speculative glares tonight, but I never would have guessed there’d be so many. As bride and groom, we were fortunate enough to have a table to ourselves, but maybe it would have been better if we had moved over to Nate’s table. Hardly anyone spoke to us, and when they did, jabs came at us from right and left about what we did to “poor Patrick” and how he must be handling all of this. With each ticking minute, I became angrier.

I mean, what is wrong with these people? Now I see why she was so worried to be here tonight. Hell, I’m giving her props for even showing up. I would have given the one-finger salute as I drove away as fast as possible. No wonder she married me; why would anyone want this life?

Even still, although I feel like she owes them absolutely nothing, Camille plays her part, the one she’s perfected, but I see the heartache lying under the surface. The only family member to speak to her is her grandfather, and thank goodness for him. The only time she lit up was when he acknowledged her. He even took over the father-daughter dance, claiming they needed to appease him because he’s an old man. Of course, Camille and I danced too, cut the cake, and kissed, but I also saw how many glasses’ worth of champagne passed through her lips.

I know she’s not mine. I don’t even want her to be mine, but for tonight, she is, and I’ve had enough.

“Hey, are you ready to go?” I lean over and ask her as we’re taking a break from dancing and sitting at a table just off the dance floor. The few friends she does have here look exhausted, and it’s only a matter of time before they say good night as well.

Blurry, sad eyes find mine. Slowly she nods and lets out a relieved sigh. Pulling her hand to my mouth, I kiss it lightly, and the two of us stand. She links her fingers through mine then leans into my arm and hugs it. This girl is killing me.

“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,” says a voice over the speakers.

My eyes whip across the lawn to find Nate standing on the stage looking directly at me. What is he doing?

“Thank you to everyone who decided to stay tonight and share in this unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome turn of events.” Is he giving a best man speech? “For those of you who don’t know my brother, and I’m sure that’s most of you”—he chuckles—“there’s no one in the world like him.”

My heart rate slows as I stare at him. He knows this whole thing isn’t real, so is he just trying to make it look more authentic? Is he doing it because he knows he’ll never have another chance? Or is he doing it because he’s my brother and he’s supporting me?

“What people see on TV, the dedicated athlete and teammate—sure, that’s a huge part of who he is, but that’s not all he is. Reid is the best person I know. Growing up, he filled every role I needed filled, from father figure to best friend. He taught me how to tie my shoes, he bought me my first tennis racket, and he showed me how dedication, hard work, and determination can help you achieve your dreams. He’s selfless. He gives one hundred percent of himself, and he never asks for anything in return.”

Warmth trickles into my veins as his words sink in. It’s one thing to know someone loves you, but it’s entirely different when you hear them speak it. I mean, Nate and I have never had flowery type conversations. We push each other, hard, because that’s what brothers do.

“I never thought I would see this day, but then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s in his nature to care for others, always has been.” He shakes his head and presses his lips together.

I don’t understand. He should be surprised. I’ve told him repeatedly I never plan on marrying, and I don’t really care for other people, I just do right by them.

“Camille.” His eyes shift to her. There’s an unnamed emotion in them that again makes me feel guilty, but I shake it off, because I can’t and I won’t. “You will never find a better man than my brother. He will be loyal, honorable, and generous, but he needs someone to continually show him it’s okay to be vulnerable, and that it’s also okay for someone to take care of him for a change. He doesn’t always have to distance and numb himself. He can let go of the facade, because those who truly love him will never leave and will always stand by him.”