It's Our Time (Carolina Rebels 3)

She sits up. “There’s an option not to? Why would I want to do that?”

“Stability for her.” I nod down at Savannah.

Sydney shakes her head. “Where you go, we’ll go,” she repeats. “I’m calling my parents tomorrow, by the way.”

“Ssh! Hush!” Savannah huffs, obviously annoyed that we’re talking.

I grin. “Sorry, little Miss.”

We stop talking and I relax. This is the life right here. A bossy three-year-old, my woman who’s finally mine after what feels like a lifetime of chasing, and all of us together and happy. If only we can get Sydney to feel better.

Because I’m still not feeling well, I decide to do a three-way call with my parents to tell them the latest news. Both of them are immediately wary, as I’ve never put them on the same call before.

“What’s going on, Sydney?” Chris asks. Heaven forbid, Mom leave him out of this. It only bugs me because I never said I wanted him on the line, but there he is.

“Ian proposed. We’re getting married this summer.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Mom asks as Dad says, “Congratulations.”

“Congratulations?” Mom sounds appalled. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew how he talked to her.”

Damn it. Not this again. “Mom, that’s just how we do things when we argue. Let it go. I’m not in any mood to convince you to see the light; I don’t feel well and I don’t have the energy. We’re having a super small ceremony, no big hoopla, and if you want to be invited, then you’ll find a way to get over it.” Mom gasps. I didn’t mean to threaten her with not inviting her to the wedding, but I was suddenly pissed and it came out. “Mom, he’s good for us. It’s happening. He doesn’t treat me badly even though he doesn’t speak to me nicely all the time. I don’t say nice things to him all the time either. Get over it. Savannah and I will be Rhetts by the end of summer.”

Mom is quiet for a second. “You don’t have to be so harsh, Sydney.”

My eyes water. “I’m not trying to be! God, I’m just…I called to tell you the happy news. Be happy for me, please?”

“We’re happy for you,” Chris says.

“Let us know how we can help with the wedding, and we’ll do it,” Dad adds.

“Is it rude if I just want to invite you from your family, Dad?”

He laughs. “Yes, but if that’s what you want, then I’ll make it work.”

“I’ll let you know for sure at some point.” There’s a knock on the door. “I gotta go. Carey’s here.” We say our goodbyes and I answer the door. Based on her frown and arms folded over her chest, I’d say she’s not happy to be here, but I want us to get back on track again. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she says as she walks in.

“Aunt Carey!” Savannah comes over and hugs her. “Look. His name is Z.” She holds up her seahorse. For some unknown reason, she’s named him after Ian’s friend, Zane. She just walked up to me this morning and said that his name was Z. When I asked why, her answer was “because,” which was very helpful.

“Go color a picture for Aunt Carey,” I tell her. She agrees and goes to the coffee table, where her supplies are already scattered on top. Carey and I sit at the dining room table. “So, how are things with you and Jerry?”

“Do you really want to know?” she asks snidely.

“If you’re going to be with him, then yeah. You’re still my best friend. Aren’t you?”

She doesn’t answer the question. Instead, she says, “You didn’t tell me you were engaged.”

I glance down at my ring. “It just happened practically and we haven’t exactly been on speaking terms. Plus, I didn’t know if you’d be happy for me.”

“You’ve been hung up on the same man since you were sixteen. Regardless of what I think, I’m going to be happy that you’re finally getting what you want, Sydney,” she says quietly, her eyes focused on the table.

I bring the discussion back to her and Jerry. “Tell me how it happened.”

Carey nods, takes a deep breath, and explains how he came into the store where she works. He sought her out, said he wanted to be forgiven because he realized he made a huge mistake, and she initially said no. He came in every shift for two months, asking for forgiveness. She finally gave in and went out to dinner with him. They’ve been seeing each other since. “He’s changed, Sydney. Sometimes, he doesn’t even seem like the same guy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be giving him the time of day.”

“All right, then. I’m sorry for how we reacted, but you sprung him on us.”