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Luna places her hand on my thigh beneath the table. Her support means everything as I tackle this. I lay my hand over hers, weaving my fingers through hers.
“I’m taking over the Cartwright portfolio for Elena. Luna and I are married for real and staying that way because we’re in love.”
Boom. Boom. Boom.
I drop all the bombs at once, each feeling so important that I can’t hold one back in favor of the other. I want to shout it from every rooftop so that everyone hears.
So that Mom and Dad hear.
Dad laughs disbelievingly. But Mom skips right over the Cartwright part and squeals, “Carter! Luna! You’re married? For real?”
Elena leans back in her chair, watching the scene before her like she orchestrated it herself. Hell, maybe she did somehow. “Now that’s a proper show-off. Let the games begin,” she murmurs.
My parents are the loudest reaction, but my focus is on Luna. I want to protect her from any shrapnel my bombs might have. She’s my priority, and this is the type of thing that could make her panic again. I won’t let that happen.
I hold up a hand. “Let me explain.”
Dad pushes back from the table sharply, standing to try and lean toward me. With his hands planted on either side of his almost-empty plate, he roars, “Explain? There’s nothing to explain. You’ve lost your mind.”
He’s completely forgotten that Elena is here to witness this breakdown. But I’m doing my best to remember that and behave accordingly—as the strong and professional person she can entrust with her most valuable assets. It’s hard when my ego wants me to stand and roar back at my father.
Gritting my teeth, I manage to say, “I’m managing Elena’s portfolio. And I love my wife, Luna.”
I take her hand from my lap, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand to reiterate, and then give Elena a grateful nod. She was right to keep her nose out of things and see how they played out. Because this is what matters. This is the life I’m creating for myself, the one I’m choosing.
“Charles, let’s hear him out,” Mom suggests as she tugs at his sleeve, trying to get him to sit back down. “I want to hear about this marriage.”
That’s Mom.
Both of my parents care, though they show it in such different ways. Mom’s always worried about our mental and emotional well-being first, while Dad wants to make sure we’re putting food on the table and upholding our reputations.
“The details don’t matter, that’s between Elena and me. We have worked out how Mr. Oleana will transition responsibility over to me so he can retire. It’s done,” I declare, shutting the door on the business side of things to focus on what Mom wants to hear about. “The important thing is that Luna and I are together, happy and in love.”
“He is so much like you,” Mom says out of nowhere, looking at Dad fondly. “Remember when you were full of piss and vinegar like that, so ready to tackle the world that you wouldn’t let anything hold you back?” She laughs lightly, and Dad frowns at her. But he can’t stay mad at Mom. He’s never been able to.
Dad chuckles unintentionally. “I didn’t run off and get married for a business deal,” he counters as he jerks his head toward me, talking as if I’m not sitting right here to listen. But his tone is much lighter as Mom works her magic on him.
“No, we got married because we had a deal of a different sort and you didn’t want to tell your dad. Surprise!” She waggles her eyebrows at Dad, and I realize what she’s insinuating.
“I thought Cameron was born early?”
Elena pats my hand, explaining kindly. “That’s just what we used to say when the baby was born seven or eight months into the marriage, dear. And polite folks went along with it and told you how nice it was that the baby was so big for being early.”
I blink, looking at Mom and Dad in shock. How did I not know this? It doesn’t change anything, not really, but there’s also a sense of satisfaction that maybe Dad wasn’t always perfect.
Dad fidgets with his fork, examining his plate and his thoughts. When he looks up at me, he asks, “Are you sure?”
I don’t know if he’s asking about the portfolio management or Luna. It doesn’t matter because the answer’s the same either way. “Absolutely.”
Dad turns his eyes to Luna, who surprisingly meets his and holds his gaze. “Are you sure about this idiot?” There’s no hate in the name-calling. It’s more of a tease.
Luna frowns, but there’s a glint of humor in her eyes. “There’s a fine line between love and hate, but yeah, I’m sure.”
She grins at me, proud of herself for the dig. In reply, I lean in, closing the gap between us and placing a sweet kiss to her lips. We did it. Together, we’ve gotten through a gauntlet of battles today, and I couldn’t have done it without her at my side. Too quickly, she pulls back and I can see her blushing furiously at the public display.
