Page 39 of Honeymoon Phase
“Here’s the proof.”
John refuses to look at the piece of paper, choosing instead to lean back in his seat and grab his giant beer. He shoots me a menacing look and I suddenly really regret the mustache decision because I didn’t think about the fact that Addison’s dad has a mustache. And now I feel like a fucking dick sitting here with a cheap knockoff version of his mustache telling him I just married his daughter, when he most likely knows it was just so she could take over the company he’s trying to sell.
John downs the rest of his beer and crushes his can in his hand before standing up. The loud scrape of the chair on the floor is deafening as he points a finger toward the front door. “You. Outside.”
“Dad, now listen.” Addison steps forward with her hands held up. “It’s my choice who I marry and—”
John cuts Addison a look and, just like that, she stops talking.
I really need to learn that look.
Licking my lips I nod and offer her a tight smile before turning on my heel and making my way out the door, hearing the loud thud of his boots following close behind me.
Whatever you do, don’t catch yourself alone with him.
God, I really am screwed. This is the fucking pole climb happening all over again. Why do I keep putting myself in these situations? I’m a fucking masochist.
I step out onto the front porch and turn on my heel, watching warily as Addison’s dad stomps to the far end, pacing and opening his mouth to speak but then closing it after deciding otherwise. He’s a tall man, decent-sized belly. Not overly muscular, but something tells me he could still kick my ass even without his armory of guns.
Finally he stops pacing and props his hands on his hips. “Did you not think it proper to ask my permission to marry my daughter before you actually married her?”
My brows lift as I consider that fact. Under normal circumstances, yeah, I probably would have asked, but these weren’t normal circumstances. And he knows that. So I hit him back with the only thing I can think of. “Since it was your daughter who asked me to marry her, I guess I thought that tradition didn’t really apply here.”
John huffs out a noise of indignation. “Of course she asked you. That still don’t make this right.”
He begins pacing again, his boots loud on the worn-down deck. I really don’t want this man to hate me for the next year of this marriage. In fact, it’d be nice if I could get him on my side. If I am to win over his daughter in the end, I’d rather we be... I don’t know... friends maybe.
He reminds me a lot of my own dad. Tall, blue-collar, unrefined. And overprotective to a fault. Not completely dissimilar to me.
I clear my throat and step forward, holding my hands out in surrender. “All due respect, sir... Addison is a big girl and is perfectly capable of making up her own mind on who she marries. And what business she can operate on her own,” I add, standing up a bit taller because I’m speaking for her just as much for myself, and something about that makes me feel braver. “She’s a very capable woman.”
“She don’t know what she’s in for,” John tuts, eyeing me through his furrowed brows.
I shake my head and wince. “I disagree with that.”
“You don’t know what you’re in for!” He points back to the house. “She’s a fucking lot.”
I fight back a laugh. “I’m aware.”
“And you might think this marriage is just a piece of paperto help her get what she wants, but you need to know something, Luke Fletcher. You listening to me?”
“I’m listening.”
He inhales deeply through his nose, shaking his head at the house before saying, “She was scared shitless when you were climbing that pole last week. Damn near had a panic attack watching you make an ass of yourself up there when you know you had no business doing that.” He barks out a wet cough and shakes his head in disgust. “So whether you two are just friends or truly married, this shit is real on some level, she cares about you for some reason I can’t figure out. Which means if you break her heart, I swear to Christ, I will grab my side-by-side shotgun and rain so much buckshot in your ass you won’t be able to shit right for the rest of your life. You got me, boy?”
I blink back my shock, struggling to maintain eye contact, because what John has just said to me means more than he’ll ever know. He’s given me hope I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I had before now.
Addison cares about me.
My best friend maybe even loves me. But whether it’s as more than a friend remains to be seen I guess.
“I understand you, sir.” I lick my lips and inhale deeply before adding, “And I may not have asked for your permission, but I’d like you to know that eventually I’d like your blessing and I hope with time, I’ll inspire you to give it to me.” John huffs out a noise of disbelief so I add for good measure, “But until that day you can rest assured that I’ll make it my life’s mission to make your daughter happy.”
John nods slowly and I feel my shoulder straighten a bit more in his presence. I don’t know if it’s because of the lumberjack competition or because I just married my best friend or because of that kiss that I wholeheartedly didn’t expect, but I don’t feel as afraid of him as I once did. He’s just a man as am I. And whilehaving him on my side would help, Addison’s opinion of me is really the only one that matters.
“Edith, if I wait any longer, there might not be anything left of Luke!” Addison yells from inside the house and her footsteps grow louder as she stomps through the house and swings open the front door with all the grace of a lumberyard chick. Her eyes find mine instantly and she looks me up and down, the two lines in her forehead deep as ever. “You’re alive?”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “I’m alive.”
