Cannon (Carolina Reapers 5)

“Truly?” The word was a gasp.

“Truly, sugar.”

“Oh, Mama! That is wonderful news!”

Mom sucked in a breath, locking up her happy tears. “I know! Okay, that’s enough fussing over me! Finish your appraisal of the club! We’ll celebrate tomorrow!” She hung up before I could argue, before I could say more.

I turned around to face Cannon, who smiled down at me, clearly having heard everything.

“My mom gets a kidney,” I said the words aloud, the truth in the statement stealing my breath. A crazed laugh left my lips as I launched myself into Cannon’s arms. He scooped me off my feet, holding me against him as he spun me.

“That’s fucking wonderful, Princess,” he said, his cheek against mine.

Happy tears streamed down my face, but I pulled back enough to crush my lips against his. “I didn’t think it would happen,” I said between kisses. “We never thought we’d find a match.” I kissed him frantically and happily, and he took it all and gave everything in return. “Cannon, she gets it two days after the wedding!” I continued my happy rant between kisses.

His lips stilled against mine, something unreadable flashing across his eyes.

“Cannon?” I asked as he slowly set me on my feet and took a step away from me.

He slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks as easily as that wall slammed shut over his eyes. “You don’t need me anymore.”

I blinked, scraping my palms against my face to rid myself of the happy tears. “Wait, what?”

He shrugged, the movement so much colder than his demeanor moments before. “I’m truly beyond happy for your mother, Persephone,” he said, and I could read that truth in his eyes. “You deserve to be happy. Deserve…everything.”

I took a step toward him. “What are you saying?”

“You don’t really want to go through with this, do you? Not now that you know your mother will be all right.”

I gaped at him. “Of course, I want to go through with this.” I reached for him, but he remained statue-still, like he was holding himself in place for fear he might fall apart. “Cannon, I love you.”

His eyes held mine, but nothing was betrayed on his face.

Cold, freezing panic clawed at my insides. “But you don’t…do you?” The question was a broken whisper.

“Persephone,” he sighed my name, and I shook my head.

After all this time, after everything that led us to this moment…I was sure I’d felt it. Felt his love. Even if he couldn’t say it, couldn’t acknowledge it, I’d thought I felt it.

“Do you, Cannon?” I asked again. “Love me?”

He visibly swallowed.

“Do you?” I pressed. “Not love sleeping with me, or my ambition, or my ability to sass you into the next century, but do you love me, Cannon?”

“Persephone, I—”

A loud, shrill foghorn covered up whatever Cannon was about say, the sound so encompassing we both jolted.

“Bachelor party time!” a thick Scottish accent hollered from behind.

“Bachelorette party too!” a richer southern accent drawled.

We whirled to find a gaggle of our friends…our family rushing into the ballroom, outfitted in their finest suits and dresses.

Connell let the foghorn drop to his side and flashed me an apologetic grin. “I’ve never used one before. Had to try it out.”

I mustered my best smile, allowing the happiness on our family’s faces to erase the growing unease in my heart. Harper, Faith, and Echo rushed to my side as Annabelle, Delaney, and Langley followed them, each one donning a glittering party tiara. Annabelle placed the largest crown atop my head.

“You ready to kiss single life goodbye?” she teased me with a wink, linking her arm in mine.

I flashed Cannon a glance, making sure he was the only one I looked at when I answered. “I truly am.”

Then the girls squealed and hauled me out of the room where a handful of Reapers dominated the space in the hallway, awaiting Connell to fetch the groom. Or would-be groom.

God, I didn’t even know anymore.

The independent woman in me screamed at me to stop this party and go demand an answer.

The coward in me was too terrified to hear Cannon’s truth.

So I let the girls pack me into a limo and whisk me away.

Let them lead me into some of Charleston’s hottest bars and clubs.

Let each drink I had wash away the uncertainty, the pain, the fear until I could hardly remember what I’d been upset about before. Until I could do nothing but dance with my amazing friends, feed off their excited energy, siphon off that pure, unflinching love and let it replace every dark doubt in my mind.

“This is our last stop,” Echo said directly into my ear so I could hear her over the live band that played.

“Good!” I said back, laughing. “I don’t know if I can remain standing much longer!”

She laughed, too, nodding as we bounced to the beat of the music.