Making Decisions

I smiled softly as I watched Dale pace around the room while we waited for the women to join us again in the living room. I was glad that my sister had found her other half in Dale. He was both good for her and to her, which was something that she deserved. I leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow at him.

“You really love my sister, don’t you?” I asked.

“I did ask her to marry me. She is amazing,” he said dreamily.

“I know. I know it doesn’t matter, but I approve of your relationship and marriage,” I told him.

“Thank you.”

“He doesn’t need your approval, R. H. M. He has Caleb’s and Joey’s. They’re around more. They love me.”

“I l–”

My words were cut off as Leah stepped into the room, looking like a Goddess in her billowy turquoise dress and braided crown around her head. My eyes roamed down her body before slowly coming back up to meet her eyes.

“You look beautiful, Phoenix,” I said softly.

Ramira elbowed her, making Leah frown at her. “You can call me Leah today.”

My lips lifted up. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“Are we ready?” Ramira asked.

“Yes,” we all answered.

I offered my arm to Leah who frowned at me as she took it. I covered her hand with mine as I led her out of the house to my car, helping her inside before jogging around to the driver’s side to follow Ramira to the wedding location. When we arrived, I led Leah into the seating area, situating her next to Caleb’s mother, who immediately wrapped her arms around me.

“Good morning–”

“R. H. M., Mother, remember,” I told her, glancing at Leah.

“Oh, yes. I’ve always hated that name. I don’t understand why you have to hide behind a fake name.” She rolled her eyes when I went to speak. “I know. Names hold power. What good is power if you don’t trust. Think about it.”

“I always do, Mother. Everyday for the last 8 years.”

She patted my cheek. “You’re a good boy, son. Now, I think you should go talk to Joey. He looks anxious. You do that and I will get to know your friend.”

I hesitated next to her before Leah gave me a tense smile. “It’s okay. Go on. I’ll be okay.”

I sighed as I turned around to go speak to my brother, who instantly held his hand out to shake mine.

“You brought Leah. How is that going?” Joey asked.

“I don’t know. I keep fucking up. I don’t know how you do it.”

He patted my shoulder. “It’s hard work, brother, but so worth it.”

“I hope so, because I’m in this for the long haul. No matter how long I have to wait.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Judging from the way she’s watching you, you don’t have to wait long if you play your cards right. God, play your cards right, Brennan. She’s good for you.”

I shifted so that I could look at her. “Better than anyone else,” I said softly.

“Even better than Diadra?” He asked.

I nodded. “Ten folds.”

*****

After the ceremony, I bee lined straight for Leah, who was still chatting happily with Caleb’s mother. She smiled up at me as I approached her. She smiled at me before excusing herself from my third mother. She placed her hand gently on my arm.

“I lo–like your family so much! Everyone is so sweet.”

“Just wait until you meet Maddie. She has all the spice,” I chuckled.

“I can’t wait,” she said, looking around. “She sounds like Miriela. A little firecracker.”

“Maddie is not just a firecracker, she’s the entire volcano,” I chuckled. “Let’s go get some food while we wait for the lovebirds to arrive. I hear Joey spent a small fortune on food. Let’s make it worth the trip.”

She burst out laughing as I led her to the tables that had dozens of platters laid on it. We got our plates before sitting at a table to eat. As I was listening to her gush about how beautiful the ceremony was, Joey and Maddie arrived, drawing everyone to their table. When Leah immediately tried to get up to go over to them, I reached out to take her hand.

“Finish eating, Leah. They’ll be here for a little while. We have time.”

She sat back down, quickly finishing her food before getting back up, almost vibrating with excitement.

“Come on, R. H. M. I want to meet the famous Maddie.”

“Don’t you mean the infamous Maddie,” I teased as I got up to lead her over to the table where the newly wedded couple were happily greeting their guests.

As soon as we made it to the front of the line, Maddie smiled at me as she leaned across the table to hug me.

“I’m so happy you could make it, B–”

“R. H. M.,” Joey said, cutting her off.

“Brother. Who is that with you?” She finished.

I reached behind myself to pull Leah forward, keeping her hand in mine when I saw she was nervous. “This is Phoenix.”

“Leah,” Joey corrected me, making me glare at him.

“Goddammit, Joseph, you shouldn’t be telling people her name!”

Leah let my hand go to put hers on my arm. “It’s okay, R. H. M. It’s nice to finally meet you, Maddie.”

“Likewise, Leah.”

Leah glanced at me before looking around. “Do you happen to know where the bathrooms are? I have been holding it since we arrived.”

“Of course! I’ll show you. Let’s go,” Maddie said.

I narrowed my eyes warningly on Maddie, who ignored my look as she led Leah away, leaving me with Joey, Ramira, and Dale.

“So, how’s everything going with Leah today? You two seemed awfully chummy at the table,” Ramira teased.

“I have come to a decision,” I announced.

“Oh? Have you now? Do you want to enlighten us?” Ramira asked.

“I have decided that Leah is it for me. I want to marry her,” I confided.

Ramira’s eyes widened. “When did that happen?”

“When I saw how happy Joey was with Maddie. It gave me hope that one day I could have that too.” I turned to look at Leah who was standing chatting with Maddie. “And I want it to be with her. I l–” I took a deep breath. “I love her.”

Ramira clapped her hands together. “Oh, Brennan, I am so proud of you! You are making such astounding progress. Every time you say it, it will get easier. I promise.”

“I hope so, Ramira. Because I need her. There’s so much that I want to say to her, but I’m afraid. With everything going on at Eden, I’m afraid there’s so much damage and I’m not sure how to fix it.”

“Just talk to her. You don’t have to say, ‘I love you.’ But you should at least tell her what you say in your letters to her face. It will help. Now, unless you want her to hear us having this conversation, smile and change the subject.”

I burst out laughing before nodding. “Of course. I welcome any type of donation to Eden, especially when it comes from your coffers.”

“Coffers? Ramira has coffers?” Leah asked.

“Yep. It’s where she keeps all of her adult toys and collars,” I chuckled.

“That’s interesting…” Leah muttered, making the rest of us burst out laughing.

While we were laughing, Maddie came back over, and jealous filled me with the way Joey immediately pulled her to his side as he continued our conversation without missing a beat. A few minutes later, Nathan walked up to us, smiling as he stopped in front of Leah, who eyed him, instantly inflating my jealousy to the point of exploding. I immediately repositioned myself so that I was standing protectively between them, not that it deterred him.

“Excuse me, beautiful. I couldn’t help but notice you during the ceremony. I was wondering if you wanted to dance?”

I tensed as my hand shot out to grip her elbow as she went to take Nathan’s outstretched hand. “We were just about to go to dance,” I ground out.

“But, R. H. M., you were talking. I don’t want to interrupt your conversation with your family. I love to dance,” she told me.

I tugged her closer to my side. “I will dance with you all night if you want, princess.”

Surprise crossed her face. “You will.”

My hand flexed around her elbow. “Yes. If that’s what you want to do.”

“It is,” she replied.

“Alright. Come on.”

“Before you go, I want to say goodbye. I think we are ready to go,” Maddie gushed happily, gazing up at Joey, who cupped her face.

“Yes. I’m ready to go home.”

After Leah hugged Maddie, I pulled her back to my side, not wanting to let her stray too far.

“It was nice meeting you,” Maddie told her. “Have fun.”

While Joey scooped up, I led Leah to the dance floor where I got to spend hours swaying with her in my arms. I held her so long that the sun had set before I let her go. When I did, she tilted her head back to smile up at me.

“I really like to dance. Thank you.”

I cupped her face before kissing her softly. “It was my pleasure, Leah.” I looked around, chuckling slightly when the reception area had already been broken down with only the DJ still there. “I guess we’ve worn out our welcome. I hadn’t noticed everyone had already left.”

Surprise crossed her face again. “You didn’t? People kept coming up to say goodbye to you.”

I took her hand to kiss the back of it. “I don’t really notice my surroundings when you’re in my arms.”

“Oh, R. H. M.,” she whispered as she linked our fingers together.

“Leah, I–” I paused when she yawned before kissing her hand again. “Come on. We can talk later. You must be exhausted.”

“I am. But you must be even more tired. You drove here and have been awake longer than I have,” she said.

I squeezed her hand. “I don’t even notice it when I’m with you. You make me feel like I’m floating on the wings of angels,” I said as I opened her door for her.

Before getting in, she wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. “Thank you, R. H. M. I know it’s hard for you to express things to me, but I just wanted you to know that I see how hard you’re trying, and I really appreciate that.”

I wrapped my arms back around her. “I care about you, Leah. Like really care about you. This isn’t just some passing phase for me. I want to be with you. I want to give us a chance. I want you to give us a chance. I know that you care about Armadillo, and I know he cares about you too, but it hurts me to see you with him. It hurts me to think you are falling for him when I’m so deeply invested in my feelings for you.”

She reached up to grip my face in her hands before pulling my face down to kiss me. “Okay,” she whispered against my lips. “Let’s give us a chance.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “See, I have this little piece of paper that says I can have a boyfriend.”

I chuckled as I pecked her lips again. “I’ll tell you what, think about it for a few days, and if you are still interested in handing me your certificate, I’ll gladly take it.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I just want you to be sure.”

She nodded. “I understand, but just so you know, I made the decision before we left.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“When I went to talk to Armadillo, I told him that as much as I enjoyed our time together, I still couldn't get you off my mind. He understands. He doesn’t want to, but he does.”

I pulled her closer to my body for a moment before helping her into the car. “I adore you, princess.”

She smiled up at me. “And I adore you, R. H. M.”