Page 15 of You Are Cordially Invited

There was a dreariness to the weather after the bright spring start to the day—clouds swallowing the sunshine and not looking at spitting it out anytime soon. It fitted only too well with my sinking mood, as every fibre in my body screamed that Reuben should be with me.

It didn’t sit right. But I’d still fobbed him off.

And on some level he knew. He’d looked if not exactly hurt, then wary, and I hated that I was the reason for it. But my mother had caught me off guard, and there was way too much going on for Reuben, with the wedding in two weeks in addition to all of his rugby commitments and the upcoming European tour, to add this complication to the mix. Not until I knew more.

But then I thought of our promise that morning.

Pinky swear?

Fuck.

Just a few hours later and I was already screwing up.

No, I hadn’t been upfront about my concerns that Reuben might feel trapped or that he might feel his rugby wings were clipped by having me in his life. I wanted the best for him, and I never wanted to be the reason he didn’t reach his potential. But I also knew he loved me and that he wanted me in his life. Iknewthat at a bone-deep level.

I should’ve just talked to him. I don’t know why I didn’t. The damn wedding was messing with my head. We shouldn’t have tried to squeeze it into a rugby bye weekend, for fuck’s sake.

Ya think, queen?

But nailinganydate that worked with Reuben’s rugby commitments was damn near impossible. Rugby ran from February to November. First, the Super Rugby competition until mid-year, then the provincial Mitre 10 Cup which followed. And that wasn’t even including the All Blacks’ fixtures, training, and tours in-between. We’d already postponed the wedding once; it wasn’t happening again. If we didn’t do it now, it could be well after Christmas and another six months would’ve passed. Not. Happening.

And since Reuben was still early in his career, there would be no let-up. Little wonder lots of players chose to wait until they were retired. But Reuben didn’t want that and neither did I. It wasn’t that weneededmarriage; we wanted it, always had, although I’d been the one to ask—quaking in my boots—but that’s another story. Plus there was Cory to think of. It definitely helped to ensure his future with both of us.

“Cam?” Cory leaned between the seats and poked at my damp eyes. “Are we going to see Granna and John?”

Somehow only my mum had got the grandparent moniker, although my dad secretly thought the first name option was pretty damn cute.

Dammit. I blew out a sigh and pulled up my shirt to wipe my eyes.Get your shit together, Cameron.“Yes, little man, let’s go and see Granna. Take your trucks and headset.”

Cory had barely hit the front path when my father barrelled out the front door to meet him. He slowed just in time before Cory scuttled behind my back. It had taken a bit of practice and a few ‘incidents’ for my dad to calm his generally boisterous approach to life when it came to Cory, but he’d finally got it and the two were best of mates, in as much as Cory ever was with anyone outside Reuben and me.

My dad stopped a short distance from Cory and held out his hand. “I’m working in the vegetable garden, Cory. There’s a rug and your favourite road track set up under the lemon tree if you want to come with me. I’ve got an apple juice and a cheese sandwich for you, crusts removed.”

Cory stared at the ground for a bit, then lifted his gaze for just a second to take Dad’s hand. “Okay, John.”

“Take as long as you need.” Dad shot me a wink, then led Cory down the side path to the backyard, chattering about all the spring flowers as they passed while Cory nodded and hummed, happy enough to be led along.

I stared at the front entrance for another few seconds while I herded my mental ducks into a dubious row and then headed up the path—excited or terrified, take your pick.

I’d almost reached the door when a familiar horn spun me in place.

Reuben.

My heart kicked up and my eyes immediately filled as he pulled in behind my car and climbed out. Then those strong legs ate up the distance between us in seconds, and I was in his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he cupped my arse in his hands to hold me up as I buried my face in his neck, into that familiar reassuring scent that never failed to steady my world.

“Pinky swear. We’re in this together, right?” His warm breath brushed my ear and I nodded like a bobblehead. “There’s no multiple choice here, Cam. If you’re upset, I need to know why. And I want to be there for you. That’s what we do. That’s what this means. You. Me. Us. Don’t shut me out, baby, please. I’m a big boy. I don’t need your protection, remember?”

But you do.The need swelled in my chest but remained unspoken. “You better set me down before I throw up,” I warned, sliding down his hard body to my feet.

He let me straighten my shirt and then cupped my jaw. “I said, do you understand?”

I avoided the question, mumbling something I hoped he’d take as a yes. Because I loved him, and I protected everyone I loved. “But what about training? You needed to be there.”

“No,” he said, brushing a thumb over my lips. “I need to behere.I was so worried about you, I almost dropped a ten-kilo weight on Mac’s foot. Andrew sent me away to get my head on right, and here I am. So, do I need to know anything before we go in? Because your mum’s staring at us through the window like we’ve lost our minds.”

“No.” I slid my lips over his, drinking in the taste of the man I loved more than anything. “You’ll pick it up soon enough. Just remember to breathe, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, wondering if anything was ever going to be the same.

Twenty minutes, two gulped cups of coffee, and a piece of sponge cake later, and I was feeling a little more alive and a lot more nervous as Reuben grew increasingly still on the couch beside me.

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