Page 126 of Between Never and Forever

“I am doing this. You are too,” he told me. Then he whispered out, “What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m going to be a mess.”

“I like your messes.”

“I’m going to be without a job most likely too. The record label is—”

“They were a terrible label to do business with anyway.”

“I ruined you once, Dex. And then you ruined me. We’re all broken up and—”

“And so we’re putting each other back together.” He sighed and then said, “Put the ring on, Kee. Don’t worry about anything else.”

He always said it so easily, like he had everything taken care of, and finally, I believed him. I believed him more than anyone else in my life. I opened the box back up and stared at it. “Did you line this with security measures too?”

“You’d be proud to know that I did not. I’m also done looking at you for the day. I’ll wait until the actual wedding. That ring there is just the ring you want without any secrets…for now.”

“For now?”

“Until you say I do…and then I’m going to ask you exactly what you want, if I can stalk you with your permission.” His tone was exasperated, but I could hear his smile. “This agreement between us will be different than before.”

“You like control,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but with you, I only like it if you allow it,” he threw back.

I nodded over and over because I was trying my best not to cry. “I can’t get married without my family, Dex.”

“Good thing I invited them then.” He hung up right as there was a knock at the door.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered out, almost jumping back in shock at my father standing at my hotel suite’s door in a three-piece suit. “Dad?” I whispered out in confusion.

“You’re getting married, Kee.” He frowned at me like I should have known he’d be there, like he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“But no. This isn’t real, and Mom needs you at—”

“Mom’s at home, but she’s getting ready too. She’s managing with the nurses. Dex worked out extra accommodations for us, and there’s a whole team catering to her every need today. I think she’ll be able to make it even if she won’t know it’s your wedding. You should…” He cleared his throat. “Come by the house too. I… You should see her today, even if it’s hard. She should see her daughter in her wedding dress. She’d want that.”

“Dad,” I whispered, “this isn’t a real wedding.”

He smiled softly and touched my cheek. “Ah, Keelani. He called me. He’s been calling me all week. His voice shook when he asked for your hand in marriage.”

“But he can’t—”

“He wants us all there.” He sighed. “He talked to me again about the finances too.”

My heart dropped. Dex would have done just that. He would have tried to fix this when it wasn’t fixable. Offering my father money just meant it went down the drain. And suddenly, standing there with him in that moment, I felt anger that I knew my father would take it too. He wouldn’t even hesitate.

“He’s not helping us with anything financially.” I said the words slowly but with emphasis. “You’re not taking any money from him.”

“Well, now, Kee—”

“Don’t start, Dad.” I held up a hand and it shook but I still did it. Something in my snapped as I thought of him taking advantage of Dex. “I know you’re my dad and I know you love Mom, okay? But what we’ve been doing… It’s not right.”

The words tasted like acid in my mouth but a weight lifted from my chest as I let them slip from my lips.

“What’s not right?” He frowned as if he was confused. He was daring me to say it because in the past I never had.

“Your gambling. You handling our money like it’s an investment when it’snot, Dad.” My voice shook, but still, I felt like suddenly I knew I had to say them.