My Thug Bride

by Katherine Summers

  I mean, date me!

  I did my best to keep my distance from Henry, but I could feel his eyes on my back. My mind played with the only possible question at hand – if he liked me, why had he refused to be with me last night?

  It’s not always that I forget to be angry. I’m short-tempered most times, but this situation was an exception. I couldn’t be mad. I wanted to be. My brain wanted me to be. But all I could be was a falling mess at the hands of a rapidly beating heart.

  Hathaway, it is all your fault.

  I jumped when he held my hand. I turned around as a reflex and just about stopped myself from kicking him in the groin. I held back, scared of my own reaction. My heartbeat rose, I asked him angrily, “What was that about?”

  Henry looked at me in shock. I swallowed. His eyes didn’t leave mine. I pressed my lips.

  “I – It’s reflex. Why would you grab me suddenly from behind?” I stammered.

  He gave me a you’re-being-impossible look, “I wanted to hold your hand. I wasn’t grabbing you from behind.”

  “I –“

  And then he burst out laughing. As strange as it was, Henry Hathaway laughed. The sound of him was like the merry laughter of a child who has seen Tom ‘n’ Jerry for the first time. I was entranced.

  My heart stopped, skipped and thrashed against my chest as if asking to break open.

  My hands shivered. I looked away, trying to hide the pink rushing to my cheeks. This was ridiculous.

  “Don’t laugh,” I whispered.

  Henry shut his mouth. When I peeked at him, the smile still hadn’t left his eyes. Damn, he was handsome.

  We stopped short of the garden, in the corridor that led to it. I saw Earnest Hathaway roam about nervously as well. It brought back some of my sense.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, once we were in a private space, “I don’t understand any of this Hathaway.”

  He was tense. Henry rubbed his hands together. Maybe when we were done, I’d remind him that his shirt was buttoned wrong. I didn’t mind it because it gave me a sneak peak at his chest. Did he work out?

  “I’m so sorry about everything Anna.”

  “And what does everything include?”

  “Just… everything.”

  I held in a smile. “Why are you here Henry?” I didn’t plan on making this easy on him. But I did want quick answers to troublesome questions like why his dad was at my house so early in the morning. Or why he thought we were fiancés.

  “I don’t know where to begin Anna,” he rushed, “All of this is such a huge misunderstanding. My dad thought that…”

  When he was done, I couldn’t believe my ears. Earnest had told my father what? And… really? REALLY?

  This was not a mess. It was a bloody blunder.

  I glared at Henry in anger. I meant it this time. He looked at me helplessly, but it did nothing to undo my temper.

  “Anna,” he hesitated, “I – I really don’t know what started this. I’m not even sure which ring dad was talking about.”

  I rolled my eyes and unclenched my fingers to show him the pendant that dad had handed over to me back in the room. “This,” I said, “I lost it last night. It must’ve gotten off while…”

  I trailed off. Of course he knew how it could possibly have gotten off.

  Henry swallowed and I stepped back to lean against the opposite wall of the corridor. The space leading to the garden outside was narrow, so there wasn’t much room for distance. I still kept mine.

  Henry nodded, saying hurriedly, “I know dad caused a lot of misunderstandings, but I – I want to think of a better way to resolve it. He hasn’t met Mr. Reeves in years you know… and I don’t want him to be called a liar right after he has.”

  His argument flared my anger, “So you’re going to let my dad think I’ve been with you this whole time? Without letting him know? I don’t care Hathaway. I’m telling him the truth.”

  “No – No! Don’t misunderstand Anna. I just want your help to come up with a better excuse for this. I’m sure you don’t want your father’s feelings to be hurt because of us either.”

  “Us? I have nothing to do with your mess.”

  “Yes, it’s all my fault. And I apologized. Consider it, please Anna.”

  I hesitated. His entreating eyes were part of the reason, the other half being because this was an unexpected chance for Mark to sort out his situation with Earnest. If the Hathaway father and son explained it was all a misunderstanding, my dad would bite their neck off, gloat on his supposed victory and be back in a sad slump by the nightfall. I didn’t want him to lose the opportunity to talk to old Ernie.

  Not when I knew this might never happen again. It hadn’t happened in fifteen years.

  “Fine,” I concluded, and Hathaway’s face lit up with a bright smile. My chest thumped, I blushed and looked away reminding myself that I was still angry.

  “Thank you Anna, really – thank you. Let me talk to dad.”

  I followed him out into the garden. All the while, my mind kept going back to one small inconsistency: Earnest had just mentioned that Henry had told him that he liked me even though he shouldn’t. But Henry hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort while explaining to me the details of last night.

  Had he deliberately missed out? Did he even like me?

  A little disappointment rose in me. I shrugged at it, but it remained.

  Earnest Hathaway looked at me closely when I greeted him. I was once again struck by the familiarity of his features with that of his son. I mentioned it to him. He laughed, “Of course, Ms. Reeves. He’s my boy. He got my looks.”

  Okay. I didn’t respond.

  Henry cut in, “Yes, dad more importantly Anna agreed to help us out. Do you have an alternative in mind?”

  “I don’t think there is an alternative son. What do I tell Mark?”

  “You can’t say that Anna and I are not involved –“

  “Yeah, Mark would bury me alive if he knew I dragged his daughter into this. He might sue me as well.”

  “Okay, so that’s a start. Good job dad.”

  Henry twiddled his thumbs and I think I lost my heart to talk. Were this father and son for real?

  “Anna,” Henry turned to me, “Do you have something in mind?”

  Agreeing with them was a bad idea.

  “If I was good at making plans, I wouldn’t have met you in the first place,” I snapped, “But if any of this hurts dad, I’ll have your soul.”

  That’s the thing about me. I ended up being harsh on him and threatening him – literally – again. Sometimes it’s apparent to me why I haven’t been confessed to till date. Like, I legit might be losing my chance with this man as well.

  Henry nodded, then whispered while stepping closer, “Hold your temper before my dad, Anna. Please. He’ll bully me about this forever.”

  I cocked an eyebrow, not knowing what he meant by that.

  We might have argued again, but Earnest piped in. He said thoughtfully, “Kids, I think I know what to do. Let’s not tell Mark about you guys at all. Maintain my story of you being fiancés. I told him that Henry proposed and Anna refused, but since the ring belongs to Anna and Mark knows about it, let’s say Anna proposed but Henry didn’t accept. It will be easier for me to talk to him while I try to convince him to allow the arrangement.”

  I shouldn’t be saying this about an older man, but what a selfish sonavabitch. What about this plan made him think I’d agree to it?

  “And have Mark believe Anna betrayed him? Come on dad,” Henry responded, and I was impressed, “He told her early on that he doesn’t want her involved with us in any way.”

  I felt the need to establish a few ground rules, so I said to old Ernie Hathaway, “I’m only doing this so you and Mark can sort out your feelings for each other, sir. You so obviously have things to work out so all of us can move on.”

  “Yes, Anna. Thank you, I really appreciate it. I owe you one.”

  “Someday,” I
couldn’t resist the urge, “Do tell me why you slept with my father’s girlfriend in the first place. There must have been a reason.”

  Earnest’s face was a mirage of a thousand emotions blended into one when I said the words. His eyes bored into mine for a minute while Henry stilled beside me. I’m not one who wavers, but Earnest obviously wasn’t trying to stare me down. He seemed… troubled. Conflicted.

  I can read faces sometimes. I could read old Ernie’s then.

  Slowly, he nodded at me and I smiled back in response. The tension in the air dropped a little and Henry let out a loud sigh.

  “Then,” I said, “Let’s improvise. If you’re not going to be proved a liar, the fact that Hathaway and I are fiancés has to hold. I can go with the lie till you have a proper conversation with dad. I’ll put a time bar on it for my sanity: Three days.”

  Earnest Hathaway’s face lost its color while Henry caught my hand. He surprised me again but I held back my reflex elbow punch.

  “Anna, I don’t think dad can resolve this in three days.” He said worriedly.

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to complain Hathaway.” I didn’t want to be nasty. I really didn’t. I wonder why I self-sabotage with such sincerity?

  “Children, no argument,” Earnest butted in again. I wish he would stop calling us children, “Anna, there’s something important you’re forgetting. I have to talk it out with him and convince him about you guys. That’s the only way you can peacefully date for real.”

  I didn’t move. Henry’s hand clenched around mine – he still hadn’t let me go. We froze.

  My heart started to pound while I could feel the rush in Henry’s pulse. It led to me anticipating something astronomical and I blushed hard.

  Woah. Maybe I would be asked out for the first time, at twenty three. In this moment. Right now.

  Woah.

  Henry

  He is such a busybody. He didn’t have to say it so blatantly.

  I mean, I was going to ask Anna out. It’s not like I had a choice. I am more attracted to her than I am consciously aware. And honestly, I’m a little excited about the idea of us. She’s so different, it could be fun.

  But when my father put it like that, I froze. I didn’t realize I was still holding her hand – and I definitely didn’t know when I grabbed her more harshly. It came to me when I felt her fingers against my wrist. I quickly let her go.

  “I – That’s our business dad. Let’s talk about you and Mr. Reeves first.” I said as seriously as I could. I also pulled my poker face, hoping it worked.

  He didn’t let it go, “Your business is related to mine. Who knows, if you end up liking each other seriously you might become fiancés for real. You won’t face any rejection then. I’ll clear your path right now.”

  Dad, dad, dad. Let me ask her out first! Stop jumping the gun!

  I was afraid to look at Anna. I really was. What would she think of me? I think she might reject me for exposing her to Earnest alone.

  I heard a quiet laugh. I slowly turned around to face Anna and saw her chuckling silently. My heart jumped in nervousness and I managed a wimpy smile but her laughter didn’t relieve me. She was pretty as fuck though.

  “Hathaway.” God. I really do love my last name when she says it.

  “Yeah.”

  “I think we need to talk in private again.” She could barely hold in her chuckle. Her cheeks were slightly red and her eyes were lively with her smile. She reminded me of a mischievous sprite.

  So much for a confession.

  We made our way back to the stupidly narrow corridor with dad giving me a thumbs-up as I went along. I would roll my eyes out at him, but I brought this upon myself when I confessed to him first. I shouldn’t have told him that I liked Anna Reeves. Then I wouldn’t be about to ask a girl out while looking like a homeless thief.

  I clenched my fists and repeated what I had to say to her in my head.

  Only, I didn’t know what to say. My mind went visibly blank once Anna leaned against the wall and folded her arms against her chest. She smiled at me and cocked a brow, like she always did.

  I don’t know how I ever became a lawyer. God knows I had nothing to say. So I forced myself to talk.

  “Anna.”

  She smiled.

  “A-About last night…” I pretty much averted my gaze from hers, “I-I’m sorry.”

  “You already gave me a very inclusive apology before.”

  “Yes. I’m saying I shouldn’t have left.”

  “You shouldn’t have.”

  She wasn’t going to make this any easy for me, was she?

  “But I had my reason. Anna, I’m not much of a hotshot. I mean I’ve only been, you know, intimate in my relationships before. So yesterday was…”

  “A bit out of your comfort zone?”

  “Yeah! And sudden. And strange. I mean, it was excellent, but it happened without warning.”

  “Yes, and usually people take weeks to plan such things out.”

  “Don’t be sarcastic Anna, please. I’m trying my best here.” I struggled for words again. And her impish mouth spread into another bold smile.

  She bridged the distance between us in one step. Before I could react, she pressed her body into mine and wrapped her arms around my neck. I stood stiff as a log. My heart however did jump to my throat and threatened to burst out.

  “Hathaway,” she whispered, her eyes boring into mine. I swear she is the devil, “I’m twenty three. I’ve never been formally asked out, so I was sort of looking forward to this. But…”

  She trailed off. Her arms snaked around my neck more comfortably as she leaned in closer to mumble against my mouth, “You’re a disaster, Hathaway.”

  Oh, hell.

  I wrapped my arms against her waist and pulled her close. My lips crashed against her sweet mouth, and I pressed her into myself. The kiss was shattering, my bulge grew and last night came flashing into my mind like a wet dream. I sighed, not letting her go.

  “Is this a confession, Hathaway?” she managed between our kiss.

  “You bet your ass it is,” I replied.

  I love the taste of her on my lips. I might have grabbed her hips or pulled up her tee, but she was much more in her senses than me. She broke the distance between us again and pulled away, but didn’t leave the space of my arms.

  “Hathaway, Mark would kill you. Let’s take this somewhere else later.”

  I was dazed. I looked at her sea green eyes and wet hair, she smelled of cocoa and honey, her lips were so red. She pushed herself into me again and kissed my cheek. I let her go.

  She moved out of the corridor and into the garden, while I watched her from behind. My heart was racing, my lips itching for her touch. She seemed like a strange enigma in that instant, walking away, unfazed, as if untouched.

  I went crazy for a small second. I ran again.

  I grabbed her from behind and pulled her close. She stopped in her tracks to look up at me. I embraced her harder. I was secretly relieved she didn’t kick back.

  “I like you Anna Reeves,” I whispered landing a soft peck on the top of her head, “I really like you. Would you go out with me?”

  She broke into a terrific smile again.

  “I think I said yes a few seconds ago.”

  We kissed.

  It was a sweet, sweet moment, almost close to perfection – if something hadn’t hit my ass. I didn’t want to pull away from my – uh, girlfriend – I’m blushing for real. But I had to when a fierce glare almost scorched my back.

  “You scumbag!” Markian Reeves howled at us, “I saw what you did to my daughter. Come here! I’ll whoop your ass!”

  Apparently, he had thrown a cane at me. The cane he had bought for my dad.

  I swear to God, parents can be really dramatic most times.

  Chapter 12

  Anna

  “Anna, you tell me the truth.”

  Improvise, Anna, improvise. I stood before Mark, my head a flurry
of fast paced alternatives and possible plans. Of course, I should’ve thought this out. I mean, what was I expecting kissing Hathaway in the garden and in the corridor?

  I didn’t even get to enjoy my first confession.

  I stood before a fuming Markian who looked ready to burst, while Hathaway stood two steps behind me. He did want to take my side, literally, but Mark’s glare had made him step back. His father was seated on the couch on the other side of the round glass table.

  “You said you weren’t involved with him Anna,” Mark accused, “I thought you didn’t lie to me.”

  Well… technically, we had nothing between us till two minutes ago.

  So how do I tell the truth and protect everybody’s feelings again? It’s a hassle. I don’t want to do it.

  “Hathaway asked me out,” I said flatly. But old Ernie jumped in to say, “She means proposed! Proposed… and she means Henry, not me. We’re both Hathaway so…”

  I rolled my eyes and turned around to stare at him pointedly. I hope he got what my gaze said: Shut up.

  “Anna – “

  “Dad, Markian. Dad. Yes, Henry proposed to me,” I said carefully choosing my words so I could buy me some minutes, “But I flat out refused. I mean, we’re all enemies right?”

  “Then why did he have your ring? It’s the most precious thing to you.”

  I faltered at that, but Henry chimed in, “She – she gave it to me as a goodbye present. She likes me, but she couldn’t say yes because we’re… enemies.”

  I held in my laughter that could have escaped at how Henry said enemies. He hissed the word. He’s cute.

  “You be quiet,” Mark said angrily, “Anna you tell me. Have you two been dating?”

  “We’ve seen each other a few times.”

  Three, precisely.

  “So is he a nutcase? Why did he propose to you?”

  “I guess he just likes me that much.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  The slight wonder that filled Mark’s eyes made me scoff. He gave a doubtful look to Henry but I could tell he was genuinely amazed.

  “That’s a little rude Mark,” I pointed out.

  “I – I didn’t mean it like that sweetheart.”