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With a weak nod, I fish around for my cell phone while Rafael pulls back out onto the road.
“Hey, Dad!” I say, my voice sounding entirely too chipper, and he knows it judging by his automatic response.
“Wow, someone’s happy. Must’vereallyenjoyed the holiday, huh?” he asks, and I know he’s mocking me. “Never mind that, I’m sure I’ll hear all about it at dinner tomorrow, won’t I?”
I clear my throat, a tether of apprehension tugging at my stomach. “About that…”
“Are you cancelling?” he asks, genuine surprise filling his voice. “You’ve never cancelled one of our dinners.”
“No, no. It’s not that, Dad. I was actually wondering if we could move it up. To tonight.”
There’s a long pause of silence before his usual playful tone is filling my ears. “Of course. I’ll see you both at six,” he answers before hanging up.
Both?
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
My palms areslick as I grip the steering wheel, turning into the drive of my future father-in-law’s home.
I can honestly say I’d never imagined meeting my future wife’s father like this. Not to mention the fact that Ialready know him.
The path to the house is lined with brick, leading up to a one-storey Victorian-style home with a large bay window in the front that boasts a brightly lit dining room that I can see clear through the drawn curtains. “Are you ready for this?” she asks, resting her hand on my thigh, giving it a tight squeeze.
“Never been more prepared for anything in my life,” I lie.
She rolls her pretty blue eyes, smirking at my expense. “Such a liar.”
“Maybe a little,” I admit. “I’m going to fuck this up, you know. Inevitably I’m going to say something stupid, and he’ll be mentioning it in our wedding speech.”
“Ourwedding speech?” she asks, her brows raised and eyes wide, but that smirk still dances across her pouty lips. She’s beautiful, and I want to kiss the expression clean from her mouth.
“See?” I shake my head. “It’s already started.”
Her face turns serious as she grabs my cheeks in her palms, resting the tip of her nose against mine to stare directly into my eyes. “It doesn’t matter what you say in there. I’m still going to love you, and even if he doesn’t approve,he’ll get over it.Okay?”
“Okay.” I breathe, closing my eyes and revelling in the solace she brings me. “Ready.”
When I open them, I’m met with hers, filled with such determination that all of my fears seem to melt away.Even if he’s pissed, it changes nothing.
Because there isn’t a world I want to live in without Elise. A life without her wouldn’t be worth living at all, and over the last few months, I’ve come to realise that.
If there’s one thing our love will never be, it’sselfless love.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
I might talk a big game,but that’s just for Rafa’s benefit. In reality,I’m losing my shit.
We make it to the door, my hand shaking as I raise it to knock, but it never makes contact.
The dark wooden door swings open, with my dad standing on the other side, his lips pressed into a thin line as he looks between us, making no effort to let us inside.
“What the hell is my team captain doing here?” he asks, his brows pinched together. If he wasn’t referring to Rafael when he said “both of you” earlier, who on earth could he have meant? Had Noah got a hold of him and spewed lies about him and me?
Neither of us makes any move to speak, a sudden chill zipping down my spine at the intensity in my dad’s glare. This is a man who isneverupset about anything. Why did he have to choosethis momentto take life so seriously?