Otto: The Hawthornes by Nicole Jacquelyn

Author:Nicole Jacquelyn [Jacquelyn, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nicole Jacquelyn
Published: 2024-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Otto

“I thought they were on their way back,” I muttered, looking up at the clock.

We’d been sitting in my parents’ kitchen, drinking beer and killing time for the last hour. Thankfully, all of us boys knew how to cook and dinner was warming on the stove, because the women were a lot later than they said they’d be.

“Talked to Bishop not fifteen minutes ago, and he said they’re fine,” my dad replied easily. “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

“Not sure why we didn’t send a member with them,” I muttered. “Bishop’s a fuckin’ civilian.”

“Bishop’s family,” my dad countered, flicking his beer cap at me. “And we didn’t want a member out with them, callin’ attention to the group.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You’re such a worrywart,” Rumi joked, leaning back in his chair. “They’re fine.”

I’d understood why they’d chosen to go shopping immediately. They were trying to distract my bride from all the shit that was happening behind the scenes, with the added bonus of getting to know her and delicately getting information from her without her realizing it. That didn’t mean that I was stoked they’d been gone all fucking day.

“Esther’s probably fuckin’ exhausted,” I argued. “She’s had a hell of a day.”

“Understatement,” my dad murmured. “Poor thing.”

“You’re really gonna marry her, huh?” Rumi asked seriously.

“I’m really gonna marry her,” I confirmed.

“Why?”

The question hit me right in the solar plexus and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I’d been ordered to, but I couldn’t get the words out. Sometime between when I’d been kicked in the balls with the order to marry Esther and sitting down at my parents’ table, something had changed.

It wasn’t like I had some burning desire to marry Esther, far from it. But I also didn’t want people to think that I was being forced into it. She didn’t deserve that. When she’d stood surrounded by women that morning but looked at me for reassurance, I’d suddenly realized that it was me and her now. Somehow, we’d become a team.

I could think of worse things.

“We’re havin’ a baby,” I replied blandly.

“You don’t have to get married just because you’re havin’ a kid.”

“You’ve met Esther.” I shrugged. She wasn’t the type to shack up with someone without being married.

“Still—”

“Your brother’s made his decision,” my dad interrupted. He knew about the order. “Leave it alone.”

“She won’t fuck you again unless you’re married,” Rumi said, pointing at me. “That’s it, right?”

I was out of my chair before I even realized that I was moving.

“Rumi,” my dad roared, his hand slapping against my chest.

“Sorry,” Rumi muttered, his hands held up in surrender as he stared wide-eyed. “I was jokin’.”

“You want me jokin’ about Nova?” I asked through gritted teeth. My dad’s hand was still pressed against my chest like he wasn’t sure if he was going to have to hold me back or not. “I mean, didn’t she start hookin’ up with you because you were both drunk?”

Rumi’s expression darkened, but he stayed in his seat.

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