Page 28 of Promised Love
“My dad.” Autumn nods before her chin dips to her chest. “But the plan didn’t work out. My grandpop is still healthy and kicking.”
“This is some of the craziest shit I’ve heard in a long time. But what does that mean for you guys?”
“It means we’re still legally married.” I run a hand through my hair before throwing my head back and looking at the ceiling’s moldings.
I know Connor is about to ask how we want to deal with this in the future, because it’s clear Autumn’s grandfather isn’t going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. But thankfully her cell phone rings.
“It’s Dad. I’ll take it outside.” My gaze remains fixed on her retreating form as she leaves the room.
Connor clears his throat. “You still haven’t answered my question, Spencer. Why does no one know about her? Why did you hide such a big part of your life from all of us?”
I clench my jaw as he forces me to say what he’s probably already deduced by now. “Because this isn’t real. This…relationship wasn’t supposed to happen. We were forced into it. You saw the marriage certificate, didn’t you?” I raise an eyebrow. I know Connor well. He wouldn’t have allowed Autumn near me until he was certain she was speaking the truth.
He nods, confirming my suspicion.
“You saw her age. She’s twelve years younger than me. She was…sixteen when they told her she was tied to me because of some promise.”
Shame and embarrassment crawl up my spine. “I was thirty the night we said our ‘I do’s,’ and she was eighteen. She had freckles on her face, for fuck’s sake.” I press the heels of my palm against my eyes, remembering that night. “She was wearing a goddamn white crop top and an expected scowl. It felt like I was robbing the cradle as she wrote to me in the first email. It was humiliating.”
Connor places his hand over my arm, still hiding my face. “Don’t be guilty for something that isn’t your fault.”
“I’m at fault, Connor. She’s been tied to me for four years, and I’ve done nothing to change that. On the day of our wedding, I promised her she could think of me as a friend, as someone who would always protect her, but we can’t go on like this anymore. She has to live her life.”
“She’s no longer eighteen, Lukas.”
My heart stops at his words.
As if I haven’t noticed.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s still extremely unjust to her.”
My boss, my friend, looks at me for a second too long before he nods. “But now she knows—and I guess her family, too—that you’re here. What’s next?”
“I have no fucking clue.”
The words have just left my mouth when Autumn walks inside. “My family is on their way to St. Peppers.”
“Fuck.”
* * *
“I can’t believe you were here all this time,” Autumn’s grandma finally says after they have made sure I’m out of danger. They even had a lengthy conversation with the doctor. This much attention feels weird and strange, especially for someone like me who’s been a loner most of his life.
“Mom, I think we can talk about all this once Lukas is fully recovered.” Autumn’s dad, Jasper, places a hand over his mother-in-law’s shoulder.
“Yes. Yes. Of course. We’ll take very good care of you, Lukas. You’ll be fit in no time.” Grandma pats my chest, and I squirm under her affection. “Jasper, can you check with the doctors when we can move Lukas to Cherrywood? Now that he’s here, he should be at home. With his family. With his wife.”
Autumn’s eyes widen. She’s standing behind her grandparents, who are seated next to my bed.
“That’s not at all necessary. I have friends and colleagues who can look out for me if I need anything. I also can’t leave St. Peppers at the drop of a hat.”
“You aren’t well enough to work. This has to stay for a few days at least, doesn’t it?” Grandma cocks her head toward my arm in the sling. “But if you’re still so determined to live here, we’ll bring Autumn’s stuff to your place.”
“Grandma!” Autumn’s protest is immediately cut off by her grandmother’s sharp gaze.
“Your husband is injured, Autumn. You need to be there for him. You are his family. His wife.” Grandma quiets everyone with her remark.
Autumn fumes with anger, her cheeks scarlet. She runs her hands over her arms, and I hate that she’s once again cornered because of me. “I’ll move to Cherrywood…until I’m fit.”