Royally Duched (Duched #2)

by Xavier Neal

  Once the call ends, he directs his eyes back towards me. “Sorry about that. I-”

  “Just had to answer,” I mock. “I know. That’s what you say every time the phone rings whether it’s 2 in the morning or 2 minutes after we’ve finished having sex!”

  His eyes widen as does his now dropped jaw.

  The phone dings alerting him of some sort of message or email. I instantly snap, “Do I have to make a fucking appointment to have a conversation with my fiancé? Should I go ahead and give Ava a call myself? Maybe you’ll be able to squeeze me in somewhere between 3 p.m. and next month?”

  There’s a twitch of his lips that’s stilled by it ringing one more.

  Before he can he even try to speak, I bite, “I swear on the grave of Michelangelo if you answer that phone right now, I will chuck it out the nearest window so far it’ll give new meaning to long distance calling.”

  A look of fear flashes in his eyes but he doesn’t answer it. He silences the ring and cautiously proceeds, “Are you having a melt down because you haven’t had a cheeseburger in weeks?”

  “That doesn’t help,” I mumble under my breath. “I’m having a melt down because I’m in the process of turning into one of those tea ladies!”

  “I…I don’t understand.”

  “No! You don’t because when I was trying to explain it you kept answering your phone.”

  Like saying the word is magic the device begins to ring again. He gives it an anxious look.

  Are you kidding me?!

  “Here I thought Soph was right. That I shouldn’t let the tea ladies get to me because I am so different from them, because I do have my own goals and dreams, and a fiancé who genuinely values my opinion yet here in less than ten minutes you have proven her wrong. God, Kellan when’s the last time you even stopped to ask me about what I want to be working on? About my job searching?”

  His eyebrows pinch together. “Why would you be job searching? I thought you enjoyed teaching at the program. I assumed you would just keep going that.”

  “Exactly!” I shout and the dumbfounded look returns. “You assume that’s what I want, but have you asked? Hell, have you asked me anything about what I want to do in the future? Have you asked me about my friends? My mom? My dad? My sketches? Kellan your entire life is consuming mine without remorse. I left my friends, my family, my chance at doing something I was passionate about to marry you and be here with you and you can’t spare five fucking minutes to talk to me anymore!”

  He presses his lips tightly together.

  “I’m completely alienated here. It’s a foreign fucking country, Kellan! The language, the food, the culture, hell, I barely know this city! I have no clue how to get in contact with their art exhibits or art shows, not that there is exactly time since I am drowning in wedding plans, our wedding plans that you can’t even be bothered to fucking help with!”

  Defensively, he snaps back, “I’m sorry, but I’ve been busy, Brie! It was not an easy feat replacing the money the program lost!”

  “You say that like it’s my fault!”

  “I would never say that like it’s your fault!” He rushes to his feet and begins my direction. “But the reality is, love, all of that is very time consuming. And I need your support and understanding until the matters are settled.”

  “That’s all I’ve fucking been since we got here!” My voice bounces off the walls. “Supportive! Every event, every dinner, every fucking camera flash, I am by your side with my smile and loving words. I’ve been following you around desperate for your scraps of attention like some forgotten pet. But you…you can’t even deny a phone call long enough to see how miserable I am, more and more by the minute.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “And I am Kellan. I’m miserable. I miss having a life outside of you. I miss the things I liked to do and valued. I miss…being my own person. I don’t want the fact that I have a ring on my finger to mean that my own life no longer exists.”

  “But it does-”

  “But it doesn’t,” I quietly argue. “You know since we’ve been here, we haven’t done one thing I wanted to do. Not one thing that even felt remotely familiar to me. At least in the states, we found a balance. A fancy dinner here, an art show there, late night study together here, visions for MINOH there…” My head shakes slowly as tears try to stick to my throat. His phone starts to ring again and I give a defeated shrug. “Thank you for sacrificing five minutes of your time.”

  He doesn’t look back at the phone. “Brie-”

  “No.” I lift a hand to hush him. “Just take it. Call it my way of being supportive and understanding.”

  Kellan bites back his irritation at my remark. “I’m going to take this call and then we’re going to finish this discussion.”

  “You taking the call is a pretty clear indication this conversation is over.” Without allowing him time to reply, I ask, “Do you mind taking your work outside of the room? I’d like some time alone please.”

  A mixture of resentment and sorrow settle onto his face yet he nods. In one swift swoop he answers the call, grabs his lap top, and exits the room, the usual charm in his voice completely unapparent.

  The moment the door shuts, I walk over to the edge of our bed with my phone in hand, and flop down. My fingers fly across the keys in desperation.

  Me: I know you’re probably sleeping but I would love to hear your voice when you wake up. Miss you. Love you.

  I stare at the sent message to my dad for another minute before returning to my original task of changing. About the time I’ve wiggled into my favorite sweatshirt my phone vibrates with a message.

  Soph: Ran into Kellan. He looks sour. Are you alright?

  Okay. So I have one friend…maybe? Kind of? We’re going to be family making her obligated to be nice to me, right? I like to think even if we weren’t, we’d still get along. Our tastes are a little different but there’s enough middle ground to keep me hopeful that I’m right.

  Me: I’m fine. Just not hungry anymore. Enjoy lunch.

  Soph: Just call the kitchen if you change your mind. Remember they can always send food up.

  How could I ever forget that little fact? Kellan ordered breakfast in bed more than once for us the first time I came here. Back then he was more concerned with having me for his morning meal than rushing off to a meeting. Look, I’ll be reasonable with you. I know things change in relationships. I’m not a moron. But I don’t think they’re supposed to change like this and more importantly, I don’t think you’re supposed to be this distant from your future spouse. I can’t live a life time of this. I just…I can’t. I refuse to become one of those women I had to sit with today.

  There’s a small buzzing noise coming from somewhere next to my head. I groan and grumble as I feel around the pillow for my phone. With one squinted eye, I hit the answer button, and yawn. “Hello?”

  “I thought I’d be the only one yawning at this time,” my dad’s voice chuckles. “After all it is six in the morning.”

  Instantly my heart warms. “Hey Dad!”

  “Hey,” he says cheerfully. “I’d ask how my little girl was, but I have a feeling I already know.”

  Hearing him refer to me that way, scrunches my face.

  It’s his sympathy term. The one he uses when he knows something is wrong.

  “Just a little homesick,” I weakly reply.

  “Uh-huh,” he hums. After a beat he says, “That’s understandable, Brie. You’re in an unfamiliar place, for various unknown amounts of time. There’s going to be an adjustment phase in your life. Some people adjust quickly. Some people need a few months. Even a year. But you’ll get there and soon you’ll feel like Fayeweather is your second home.”

  The hope in his voice lunges my heart into my throat.

  “Now tell me the truth. What else is bothering you?”

  My lips betray me. “Kellan and I had a fight-”

  “The kind that’s going to require I call in sick today and hop on a flight?”
/>
  Best. Dad. Ever.

  “No…” Sitting completely up, I confess, “Things are a bit tense between us. Between the wedding plans, the nonstop social responsibilities, and his constant working, it just…It feels like I’m on a ride that I want to get off of but the carnival worker is too busy texting to pay attention and stop it. I mean, screaming, waving my arms, and about to throw up and still…nothing.”

  Dad chuckles again. “Nice analogy.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll be completely real with you, Brie. I don’t have any experience in the wedding planning department. Your mother and I just got hitched at the courthouse then when your grandma threw a fit for us not having one, there was a big BBQ to celebrate it that your grandma handled all the details about.”

  Grandma Grace was pushy as shit.

  “So, the only advice I have there is keep talking to him, keep communicating whatever it is you need because that’s the key to a lasting relationship, Brie. Communication.” I prepare to roll my eyes when he catches me. “And don’t roll your eyes. I’m serious. It doesn’t just mean discussing how you feel it means listening to the other person even when you don’t want too, even when they haven’t been listening to you, and trying to reach a mutual understanding.”

  I purse my lips together but remain silent.

  “There are going to be hundreds of fights throughout your life together. Some tiffs, some couch worthy, some huge enough to make you question why you got married to begin with, but knowing the answer to the latter will help guide you through the others. Think about why you love Kellan so much and go from there.” When I don’t immediately retort, he slips in, “Just so you know, banishment to the couch is an alright punishment sometimes. It’s a good lesson for both parties. We get to watch sports then realize we’d rather be next to our wives while you get to feel victorious then realize your cold feet have nowhere to steal heat from.”

  A little laugh escapes and I shake my head. “Well played, Dad.”

  “I know.”

  Leaning back against the headboard, I ask, “About to get ready for work?”

  “Yes. And before you even bother asking, I have stuck to the stricter schedule of shorter shifts recommended by the doctor and followed through by your mother. She’s been picking up a few extra clients to try to cover the financial difference.”

  “She’s not working herself to death is she?”

  “Not even hard enough to let me bring home burgers for dinner, so she doesn’t have to cook after a long shift.” He lets out a defeated sigh. “What do cheeseburgers taste like? I’ve forgotten.”

  Playfully, I retort, “Me too. Most of the meals we eat are things I’m pretty sure Candice would piss herself with excitement over.”

  There’s a heavy groan followed promptly with, “I’m sorry.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  A light tapping on the door causes me to end the call. “Well, you should go and get ready for work. Give mom some love from me. I’m sure we’ll be video chatting again about the wedding soon.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  After hitting the button, I slip out of bed and promptly answer it.

  Kellan’s solemn face gives my attire a glance. “I come to bare my soul for forgiveness and you’re practically naked. How is that fair?”

  I glance down at my sweatshirt before adding with a vindictive smirk. “This is the only thing I’m actually wearing.”

  The look of defeat increases and his shoulders drop. “Seriously?”

  My arms fold across my chest as I nod.

  A small groan leaves him.

  He deserved that…

  “Apologies first, make up sex third.”

  Prepared to ask what’s second, I’m surprised when he cuts me off.

  “Can we talk?” He asks, sincerity in his speech.

  I open my mouth, prepared to dismiss him, when my father’s lecture begins bouncing around my head. My defenses slightly drop and I back into our room, allowing him to follow me in.

  Kellan shuts the door behind him and crosses over to the edge of our bed. I watch as his entire body seems to struggle to regain the confidence it once had. His arms rest on his legs. His hands fold together. He peers up at me with uncertainty. “Do you want to marry me?”

  Disbelief he would even ask drops my arms. “Of course I want to marry you. How could you-”

  “Because it seems like ever since you agreed to, I’ve royally screwed everything up.”

  I slowly move my body towards his. “How long have you been waiting to use that pun?”

  The corner of his mouth tugs up. “Since our last argument.”

  And there’s one of the reasons I love him. Laughter and a shared determination to make each other crazy.

  “You’re completely right about what you said earlier,” he continues, the serious tone restored. “Since we’ve returned here for our engagement, I have barely been able to look away from work. The truth is before you Brie there was nothing else to compare it too. There was nothing else that had been worth giving up my dreams for.”

  “But that’s not what I want-”

  “I understand that. But in order to be a good husband, I’m going to have to relinquish some of the control I’ve spent years hoarding. You’ve given up so much for me and I can barely remember to muster up the brain capacity to order you your favorite hot chocolate in the mornings. It’s like as soon as I had secured you I went back to try to re-secure it. Losing you hurt worse than losing funding for MINOH ever could and the reality is, I would rather lose every penny for that dream, than live another minute of my life without you.”

  My body lands in front of him and he leans back to look up at me. “Kellan, I would never force you to pick.”

  “I know,” he sighs deeply. “And you shouldn’t have to. I should be intelligent enough to find a balance between working and you and if not then maybe it’s time to put MINOH in someone else’s hands. Maybe it’s time to become a spectator.”

  I give him a sweet look. “You can’t do that.”

  “No. I can’t lose you again.”

  Soph’s statement from earlier rears its ugly head again.

  He’s willing to give up the only thing he’s ever built. The only dream he’s ever had just to prove how important I am to him. It’s not what I want because no one should have to give up your passion for who you’re passionate about, but the relief from knowing he would, means the world to me.

  “You won’t,” my voice softly promises.

  Hope begins to swarm around his blue eyes.

  “I don’t need you to stop running your company, I just need you to remember I still exist too.”

  His hands land on the back of my legs. Instantly, a shiver from his touch runs up my spine, whispering a secret sexual message that only spreads when my body hasn’t been touched as recently as it would like. He observes the subtle action yet chooses not to comment on it. “I could never forget you exist, love.” Kellan encourages me to crawl into his lap. Once I’m straddling him he states, “I’m going to have a talk with Ethan and Ava tomorrow. Rearrange my schedule so I’m not working before ten or after four unless we’re at one of the shelters and you are okay with it. And speaking of, if you don’t want to teach there any more then-”

  “No. No. I do,” I quickly insist. “It’s not that I don’t love doing that, I just wish there was more I could do. More I could provide for them than just momentary afternoon reliefs. I’ve been wanting to discuss with you some ideas about maybe implementing a full curriculum or possibly more in depth educational opportunities that would be inexpensive to execute, but you’ve been so busy trying to do everything else that’s more important-”

  “Education for them is important love,” he immediately argues. “Whether it’s the arts or math or reading or all of it together, providing them with something they aren’t being given the chance to have anywhere else is very important. I
would love to hear those ideas when you’re not sitting naked in my lap.”

  “Almost. Naked.”

  He groans and his cock knocks against the heat radiating between my thighs. “Yes. Just your favorite paint stained hoodie stopping my fantasy from being a reality.” His hands slowly caress the outside of my thighs. “That’s another thing you were right about. We’ve spent countless evenings at parties, symphonies, kiss ass dinners, and not once have I had to whine my way through an art show. After we get things squared away with Ethan and Ava, we’ll make a list of some the things we can do here. Perhaps travel down to Westburg and visit Uncle Fredrick and Aunt Elizabeth. She’s always raving about some interactive art museum down there. I’m sure you’ll have a blast and I’ll fake it better than you paying attention to napkin rings with Cassandra.”