I Kissed A Ghoul by Kat Baxter
Chapter 8
Reid
It’s nearly ten in the morning by the time I reach Corpus. I’m surprised to discover that Rhett isn’t at his office at their family’s flagship hotel, The Montgomery. So I head to his house. I stop on the way and grab donuts because I’m not a savage. I can’t show up at someone’s house unannounced on a Saturday morning without bringing treats.
He opens the door, shirtless, wearing only lounging pants. His hair is all askew, and he’s frowning. But that’s Rhett, he’s a frowner, by nature.
“Morning, sunshine,” I say.
He looks me up and down, his frown deepening. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
I look down, completely forgetting that I’m wearing my costume from last night because I didn’t want to take the time to go by my place and change.
“Gomez Addams. Doesn’t matter.” I slide past him and step into the house.
“Sure, come on in.” He closes the door.
“Who’s here?” Calliope, Rhett’s wife waddles into the room, her blonde curls a messy wad on top of her head.
“Go back to bed, love, it’s just Reid.”
I hold up the box. “But I have donuts.”
Her entire face brightens and she walks straight towards me.
“Gimme,” she says, making grabby hands.
“Word of advice,” Rhett mutters, “do not get between a pregnant woman and food.”
“I didn’t bite you on purpose, you ass, would you quit bringing it up,” she snaps.
And then Rhett smiles at her and it kinda dumbfounds me. I’ve met Calliope before, briefly when I flew down for their impromptu wedding. But seeing my buddy so relaxed and so clearly in love is kinda awesome. He’s just not that guy. At least he wasn’t growing up. I swear he was born with a three-piece suit and a tie on.
Calliope disappears into the kitchen carrying the box of donuts.
“We’re not getting any of those back, are we?” I ask.
“Negative, Ghost Rider. Should have brought two boxes.” He points to the couch. “Sit.”
So I do and then I look at my best friend and start to talk. “I came here to say some things and they’re important so I need you to just listen. Can you do that?”
He lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “Depends on what you’re going to say.”
“Just let me get it all out.” I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. “I’m in love with your sister. And I know you told me I wasn’t good enough for her and fuck, you’re probably even right.” I rub the back of my neck, remembering that discussion we had so many years ago when I thought he was going to punch my face off for even mentioning my interest in Ainsley. “But I went off and I made something of myself. I got drafted in the NFL. I got endorsements selling shit I don’t even care about so I could build a nest egg for us so that if I get hurt and have to retire before my time, then I can still provide for her. I posed for underwear, man. That shit is embarrassing. I mean I know she has her own money so I’ll totally sign a prenup, if you want me to. But I’m going to tell her how I feel and I don’t care what you think. I mean I do, but I’m not going to let you stop me this time.”
He leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “You came here to tell me before you told her?”
“Well, yeah, I wanted to clear the air, I didn’t want anything coming between us.” I stand and pace the length of the living room a few times. “But I need you to know that I’m not asking your permission or for your blessing. She’s her own woman, and she doesn’t need that from either of us. But you’ve been my best friend for a decade and I value you and your friendship. Despite that, I love her more. So I’ll be damned if I let you get in my way.”
“He will not get in your way,” Calliope says from the doorway. Then she gives a big sniffle and wipes her eyes with—yep, I’m pretty sure that’s a piece of donut paper—then drops herself onto her husband’s lap. “Will you?”
His hand immediately goes to her belly where he rubs big circles on the rounded bump. “I have no intention of getting in the way.” Then he looks up at me through narrowed eyes. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you. But I’m not counting on that happening. I know you two belong together.”
I open my mouth prepared to defend myself, then realize what he said. “Wait, you’re not arguing with me?”
“No. You’re not the man you were all those years ago when I said that shit. You had no idea what you were going to do with your life. You had a terrible example of marriage with your dad.”
I glance at Calliope. “He’s on wife number four.”
“And I knew that Ainsley had a thing for you. I wanted to make sure you knew what you truly wanted.” He shrugs. “You could have just called.”
“Fuck. I could have stayed in bed with her.”
“Do not say another word,” Rhett threatens. “You can marry my sister and love her, whatever, but I do not ever want to hear about bedroom antics.”
I hold my hands up in submission. “Got it.” Then I stand because what the fuck am I still doing here? “Mind if I use your bathroom, then head out? I want to get back to my Peach as soon as I can.”
“Aww, is that what you call her?” Calliope asks.
“Yeah.” I head to the bathroom and I hear Rhett murmur something about a fruity lotion. “Nah, it’s because of her phenomenal ass,” I yell.
“Son of a bitch!” Rhett yells.
But I just laugh.
