Don't Promise (Don't 3)

Cole and my father were deadlocked. I held my breath.

20

Cole

There was no way the old man was fucking serious, was there? He couldn’t force a wedding on Kaitlyn. I wasn’t going to stand for it. Did he think this was the 1950s?

“Sir, we have made plans. Kaitlyn wants a fall wedding. If there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about, it’s me making sure she’s happy. There’s nothing more important to me. If she wants to be an October bride, then that’s what’s going to happen.”

She grabbed my arm. My bicep tensed. There was animosity in this room. It was the last thing we should feel on Christmas morning. But there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. That included, standing up to a man she adored.

I wouldn’t back down until she had exactly what she wanted.

“I’m sorry, that’s not a good enough answer for me.” Frank had deep crease in his forehead. The gray at his temples seemed even whiter today.

Grayson rustled in the wrapping paper. He freed a set of Matchbox cars Ryan had given him and started racing them on the coffee table.

I hung my head. I was running out of options to keep this civil.

“New Year’s Eve,” Kaitlyn whispered.

I looked at her. “What?”

She faked a smile. “A New Year’s Eve wedding here in the snow. Candles and twinkle lights.”

“Oh honey, that sounds beautiful.” Her mother didn’t have to pretend to smile. There was relief written all over her face.

Ryan stared at me. Fuck. That was less than a week away.

“Dad, you’re pushing too hard,” he argued. He had my back, but there wasn’t much he could do. This wasn’t his fight.

But Frank shook his head. “No, I’m not. A New Year’s Eve wedding here would be a nice way to end the holidays, pumpkin.” He left his chair and waded through the gifts to kiss Kaitlyn on the forehead.

Kaitlyn looked at me expectantly while her father hovered between us. His hand was extended. I shook it.

“Sir, if that’s what she wants.”

She nodded. “It is. I want to get married on New Year’s Eve.”

I closed my eyes. “Then there’s something I need to tell you, baby.”

“Oh shit,” Ryan murmured across the room.

Frank stepped backward.

I cleared my throat. “If this is how you want to get married, then I’m all for it.”

“It is. It will be beautiful.”

“Maybe we could talk in the other room,” I offered. It was going to be hard enough telling her. I didn’t need a damn audience.

“What’s wrong?” Her face filled with panic.

“Nothing is wrong. I’d just like to talk to you. Alone.”

“All right.”

Grayson was preoccupied with his toys. I felt Frank and Moira’s eyes on our backs as we walked to the dining room.