Page 7 of All Tied Down

“I’m handling it.”

“He just showed up unannounced?” My father’s voice is incredulous.

“Can we talk about this later? I’m trying to get him out of the building. And I know right now isn’t the best time, but I’ll be working remotely for a few days.”

“Emerson.”

“Dad.”

“Why…” His voice trails off and silence fills the line as I wait for him to put the pieces together. Somehow that seems like a better option than admitting the mess I’ve found myself in right now. “What could have happened that he’d show up here…”

“We can talk about this later.”

“You wouldn’t do anything so ridiculous as to get married when we were in Vegas for Tom’s wedding, would you?” When I don’t answer, he adds, “Please tell me that my only daughter did not get married in Vegas.”

“I…can’t tell you that,” I admit, smoothing down my hair even though he can’t see me.

“Dammit, Emerson. What were you thinking?” It’s not often that I disappoint my father, and even now in my thirties, it doesn’t get any easier.

“I was thinking that Garrett and I have been seeing each other privately and that we got a little carried away in Vegas but we’re happy and hoped to have a little more time before we had to deal with the media circus.”

“The circus is outside our lobby.”

“I know.”

“Emerson, we don’t do this. We’ve built⁠—”

“I know,” I fire back, soul-deep regret when Garrett slowly gets up, the moment completely ruined by the bucket of cold water my father dumped on me. “Garrett is with me. I’m packing and we’re going to his house in Ironwood. I’m going to call Tom and Roan. I’ve already briefed Des, and the rest I’ll deal with as it comes.”

There’s a pause followed by the squeak of my father’s desk chair and then by a heavy sigh. “I didn’t even get to walk you down the aisle.”

Clearing my throat, I turn my back on Garrett as I blink away the tears, the onslaught of emotion unwelcome as I try to steady my voice. “It wasn’t planned. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Just”—he coughs—“consider a redo, even at the courthouse.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Let me know when you get to Ironwood.”

“I will. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Silence fills the apartment as I disconnect the call, my heart hammering in my chest as I fight to regain my composure.

“Emerson…”

“Don’t.”

“Fuck.”

Spinning on him, I throw my arms wide. “I hope you’re happy, because when all is said and done, I have to break my father’s heart because none of this is real.”

“We don’t⁠—”

“You said six months,” I snap, “and not a day more.”

“I’m a man of my word,” he says like the Boy Scout he most likely is not, but I can’t even smile because I can feel the panic creeping in.