“I know you don’t want me for a son-in-law,” Ash broke in, his face hard, “but I care about Laney and I will always protect her.”
Dad’s glare was furious, the cop gone, the angry father very present. His gaze flickered, then he looked away, his expression defeated.
“I should have guessed,” he muttered.
“When . . . how long . . . are you really married?” asked Mom, still looking stunned and hurt.
I nodded.
“Father Patrick didn’t say a word!”
“We had a civil ceremony, Mom.”
She shook her head and pressed her lips together.
“When?” Dad echoed.
I licked my lips and glanced at Collin. “Three weeks ago.”
The pain on his face was awful.
“Three weeks ago? Two weeks ago I was asking you to marry me! You didn’t say anything! Why? Why?!”
“I’m sorry.”
God, that sounded so inadequate.
“Were you fucking him all this time?”
The room exploded. Ash’s chair crashed to the floor as he rounded the table to get to Collin. Paddy was there first, hauling Collin up by his collar, which tore free with a loud ripping sound. Collin bounced back against the table, sending glasses and plates flying. Aunt Lydia screamed and Dad was shouting, the room in uproar. Paddy’s brothers Stephen and Eric were pulling Ash’s arms behind his back as he bucked and fought them, shouting in his own language, words that sounded like curses. Uncle Donald ran into the kitchen to help Dad and Uncle Paul manhandle Collin from the room, although he wasn’t putting up much of a fight.
Ash was still swearing up a storm as Collin was dragged away.
“Ash, no!”
For the second time this evening, I was trying to talk Ash down. The rage in his eyes still glowed, but I could see him slowly regain control. He wrenched his arms free and stalked out of the room.
Paddy grinned at me. “That went well.”
“Shut up.”
“Seriously, Laney. You’re married to that guy?”
“Seriously—yes.”
Paddy shrugged. “At least you didn’t marry the prick.”
“Why does everyone call him that? Collin is not a prick. He’s just . . .”
“A prick,” said Stephen and Eric together.
I sighed. “He’s hurt and angry. I can’t blame him.”
“Did he really ask you to marry him?”
“Yes, he did. Oh God, I’m such a horrible person!”
Paddy slung his arm around my shoulders.
“Nah, you’re not so bad. Sure made the party start with a bang though. Well, come on. I want to meet the man who finally put a ring on it.”
“You make me sound like an old maid.”
Paddy winked at me. “If the ring fits.”
I gave him a different finger, but he just laughed.
Ash was sitting on the front porch, staring up at the stars as cigarette smoke hung in lazy swirls around him.
“Laylay, I’m so sorry . . .”
But when he saw my cousins flanking me, his words dried and he stood abruptly, grinding the cigarette butt under his boot, his stance defensive.
“Welcome to the family,” smiled Paddy, slapping Ash on the shoulder. “That’s quite a temper you’ve got on you. Any Irish blood in there?”
Ash shook his head, his eyes darting to mine.
I poked Paddy in the arm and made the introductions as we all trooped back into the house.
“Well,” said Aunt Lydia, venturing out to the hallway again, “Collin is sleeping it off in the other guestroom, so . . . since you’re a married couple, this way.”
She led us to one of the smaller bedrooms.
“Sorry, Laney,” she said apologetically as we squeezed in, eyeing the narrow twin bed. “I thought you’d be in here by yourself. I was going to put Ash in the guestroom, but . . .”
“That’s fine, Aunt Lydia,” I said weakly.
“I’ll leave you to get settled in,” she said, glancing at Ash. “And then I think we’d all like to meet your new husband properly.”
She closed the door behind her and I collapsed onto the bed.
“This is a total nightmare,” I groaned.
I felt the small mattress dip as Ash sat next to me.
“Maybe it’s better this way.”
I sat up and glared at him. “How on earth is it better?”
“We don’t have to lie anymore.”
“Are you kidding me? Of course we’ll have to lie. You don’t know my family! The questions will be endless. Mom will be pushing for a church blessing, and we’ll be everyone’s favorite topic of conversation for the next decade!”
Ash shrugged. “They’ll soon forget about it.”
My eyes bulged.
“Two years from now we’ll be divorced, right? Old news.”
He looked away as I studied him.
“Right.”
He gave a humorless laugh and sat with his back toward me.
I unbuttoned my coat and tossed it onto the tiny bed.
“I’m going to go downstairs and . . . I don’t know . . . try and calm things down. Just be prepared for a lot of questions.” I reached down to touch his cheek. “I’m sorry about this.”
He surprised me by leaning into my hand, his eyes closed.
“I should be apologizing to you. I do, Laney. I’m sorry . . . for everything.”