Rhys’s eyes are fixed on mine, but his arm moves to comfort his new wife.
No one says anything for a moment, and no one has to.
Apart from the noise and our ragged appearance, a visitor from outer space could tell you at a glance what’s just gone down in this room.
Over this table.
Against the very doorway, they’re all cramped into right now.
It’s Clara, Piper’s mom who speaks first. Once she’s let the shock register some of that shit she’s about to lose bubbles to the surface.
“You,” she hisses, narrowing her eyes on me. “We trusted you. I was gonna leave my only daughter in your care and this? This is how you repay us?” she spits.
Rhys’s arm holds her a little tighter, keeping her from launching herself at me.
But it’s Piper I’m thinking about.
“How long has this been going on?” Clara continues, shifting her seething rage from me to her daughter, who I’m proud to say holds her own beautifully.
“This?” Piper asks. Looking down at her crumpled and torn dress “About fifteen minutes,” she retorts, making me stifle a laugh.
Rhys’s mouth twists as he tries not to smile.
Clara takes a sharp breath in, and before she can say anything, it’s Rhys who speaks.
“Now, let’s just all calm down,” he says in his best Marine voice. His eyes firm but fair.
He’ll want the facts before making any judgment, and he has the power and presence right now to control his blushing bride.
Although right now she’s flushed with murderous rage, not stars in her eyes.
“We came back,” he continues, “because Clara thought she left something behind. We heard noises, and well…”
His voice trails off, but he’s quick to shift the focus back to the facts.
“Piper? Are you and Reeve romantically involved?” he asks her, speaking in a softer tone with her before he says anything to me.
I have to try not to laugh again.
His question is like asking a fish if it knows how to swim.
Clara clicks her tongue. As if the words are like acid to her ears.
Rhys leans over her slightly. “They’re both adults, honey. If this is what Piper wants? If it’s what Reeve wants,” he adds, giving me mixed signals.
Part of him is glad for me, happy.
Another part of him. The other part is a little hurt, I didn’t tell him sooner I can tell.
God knows I had more than one chance to spill my guts to him.
“I love Reeve,” is all Piper says, looking defiantly at her mom who sneers and hisses again.
“What would you know about love?” she shrieks, her face falling as her emotions get the better of her.
In one day she’s gained a husband but lost her only daughter.
And that thing hanging in the air? It’s not just the afterglow of primal sex.
It’s the energy of two souls who’ve found each other.
Two people who are now one, forever.
And it’s a stronger bond than she’s found with Rhys, I might add.
Just sayin’.
“It’s been going on since I saw Piper again,” I tell them both. “I don’t expect you both to fully understand it, but I love her. I’ve claimed her as my own now, she’s mine. We’re a couple.”
Shifting my hand to the breast pocket of my jacket.
Feeling for the only thing apart from Piper that’s as close to my heart right now.
“Well. You’ve certainly ruined our wedding day and our honeymoon,” Clara continues, ignoring me and turning all her anger on Piper, who still stands her ground.
“We’ll talk more about this when we get home young lady,” she snaps, sniffing back her hurt in favor of the anger she’s more familiar with.
But neither Piper, me, or Rhys budge an inch.
“The honeymoon’s off,” Clara says loudly, stabbing an accusing finger through the air. First at Piper and then at me.
“You’ve both ruined everything,” she shrieks again before Rhys holds both her shoulders from behind, turning her away from us.
Denise and the priest reappear to console her, leading her away.
Clearing the mood in the room in an instant before Rhys gently closes the door.
He calmly pulls up a seat and we sit down, all three of us.
Talking like adults. Like friends.
“It’s just a bit of a shock for your mom,” he explains to Piper, letting her know with another glance that he’s on her side.
That he’s on my side too.
I’ve got your back, Marine.
Always.
The only shock showing from Rhys is the look he gives me next.
“You couldn’t have waited until you got home?
I shrug, knowing the effect Piper has on me. Knowing how much the moment counted.
Not just for us, but for our future family too.
“So, you’re not going on your honeymoon?” Piper asks, already thinking on the practical side of things.
Rhys smiles, leaning back in the chair a little. “Oh, we’re going on honeymoon alright,” he affirms.
“I need a break, your mom needs a break. And from the looks of it, you two have a whole lot of getting to know each other better to do,” he says, warming his smile as he looks from one of us to the other.