Rye rolls his eyes and rests his head on my shoulder as he tries his best to keep quiet. He’s been saying that for most of the night. But every time he opens his mouth, he’s berated by the drunken women. He’s like the only metal rod in the middle of a lightning storm.
Ash was stressed about the fact she’s been taking her birth control this whole time, worried about the effect it might have on the baby, but Rye assured her that Tag swapped the pills for water pills the second the condom broke. He has a friend in the pharmacy who managed to package them up just like her birth control. Tag really did go all out. And that’s why he’s still wearing condoms—just in case she wasn’t pregnant. I suppose that is rather pointless now.
You’d think the revelation would have been comforting, but she blew up at Rye after he told her—like it was his fault Tag confided in him and didn’t tell her. I found the entire tirade rather entertaining, especially since Rye kept tugging on me like he expected me to defend him.
I didn’t. At all.
In fact, I might have possibly encouraged her to be madder at him.
I’m also fairly certain that Rye has learned more about everyone’s sex life than he ever wanted to know. Well, not my sex life—or lack thereof. I’ve not once mentioned anything about my past drama.
The girls finally seem to be calming down.
“Maybe Kade will eventually open up to me. He’s grieving, and everyone deals with grief differently, right?” Raya asks, earning a growl from Rye.
He said the same thing forty minutes ago, and she unleashed hell on him before she broke into tears. I think he’ll have PTSD after this night.
Tria sighs after finishing the last of her latest glass of margarita. “The guy shouldn’t have touched me. I mean, I sure as hell didn’t want him to, but I was trying to handle it more subtly. Kode can’t lose his temper on every guy with a wandering hand, but he only did it because he loves me. Would I really want him to just stand by while some guy grabbed my ass right in front of him?”
Rye glares at her while keeping his head on my shoulder, but he wisely says nothing. Again, he pointed out this same logic less than an hour ago and she told him he was just like any other man.
Someone bangs on the door, and Rye says, “Finally,” under his breath.
“It’s ope—”
Before I can fully get the words out of my mouth, Tag’s body is filling the doorway, his eyes going soft the second they find his wife. Ash gives him a tight smile as more tears fill her eyes, and she stands as he quickly closes the distance between them.
“Ash,” he says softly, pulling her to him and looking at her in a way I’ve never known, “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to worry you and it be a false alarm. But I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than have another child with you.”
She smiles up at him as he wipes away her tears, and she pulls him down until their lips touch. “No,” she says in a reverent breath. “I’m sorry. I just... freaked out a little. I needed... a minute.”
He nods, his smile growing. “I completely understand. I’ve been on an anxiety rollercoaster, but I love you, and I actually want another baby. I get to be a part of it from start to finish this time. It’s... exciting. Really exciting.”
A soft sigh graces my lips, and Rye raises his head and puts his finger in his mouth, mocking a silent gag. I elbow him, and he snickers quietly as Ash comes over. “I’m going home with my husband. We have a lot to do and discuss.”
I feel like an idiot when I start grinning uncontrollably, but it’s so frigging sweet to see them together. Then the door opens again without a knock as Kode comes in, his eyes going directly to Tria.
Tag and Ash grin, and they escape as Kode goes and drops down in front of Tria’s chair.
“Baby, I wish I could say I’m sorry, but I’m never going to let another man lay a hand on you. You know that. You know me. I love the fuck out of you, and I’ve changed
a hell of a lot, but I can’t change that.”
The very same thing that pissed her off is suddenly filling her with pride as her tears glisten. I apparently don’t understand love. If John ever did anything to piss me off, he didn’t apologize. We would eventually just go on like nothing ever happened. There was never a grandstanding apology that melted hearts or resolution of any sort.
“I know. I... I love you. All of you. And I’d probably slap a bitch if she touched you.”
He starts laughing as he stands, and he pulls her with him, wrapping her up in his arms. “Can we go home?” he asks sweetly, kissing the tip of her nose.
This is like watching numerous romance movies all at once. I hope Rye has a blood and gore flick ready again. I’m going to need it to bring me down from my high once this is all over.
Raya watches them leave, and she stares at the door as a tear slips down her cheek. Rain pats her arm comfortingly and leans over to take her hand. “Kade is hard to get through to sometimes, but he loves you.”
“Yes I do,” a male voice says from the door I never heard open.
Kade Colton is staring at his fiancée with a sad, apologetic smile. She starts to say something, but she clears her throat and sits back first. When she feels confident enough, she finally speaks.
“You keep pushing me away. Every time you face any sort of emotional challenge, you push me away. I’m tired of it. When you do this, I’m worried to death I’m going to say or do the wrong thing and lose you. I don’t like walking on eggshells, and I refuse to do it anymore,” she says without any emotion in her voice, even though I can tell she’d love nothing more than to cry.