Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Karl scowls, and I’m glad to see him out of his depth. “Do not encourage them!”
It gives me such a buzz that they might now really be wondering what’s in my pants. It’s rude, yes, but they started the whole thing! They can sit in their own transphobia until they get over themselves.
Roger waves his hand at his brother. “Oh, Karl, don’t worry about it. Who knows where these holidays will lead with a young lady as charming as Samantha here.”
My eyes feel like they’re bulging like Titus’s. Is he suggesting, right in front of me, that my husband might cheat? Poor Samantha starts choking on her cake. I bet she doesn’t want my sloppy seconds either.
Noise grows around us like a dense cloud, but when a carving knife stabs into the pristine wood of the table, everyone goes quiet, staring at Damen, who tightens his fingers around the handle and growls.
“Shut the fuck up. Are you really discussing my husband’s privates at the table? Whatever they are is our business. My life can get so dark, but his light always shines through to me. He knows and accepts everything about me. He supported my decision to come out to you all. I’ve finally found someone to love. You should be happy for me,” he finishes with a passion that makes me sink deeper into the chair.
It sounds way too real, which proves how good of a liar he can be.
It’s frightening because my stupid heart doesn’t know the difference and only beats faster when I look at him. “And I will always be at your side, Damen.” Am I lying? I don’t even know. The world is getting a bit fuzzy.
There’s a prolonged silence that doesn’t seem awkward to my drunken face, but probably is. Juliana breaks it by clearing her throat.
“Exactly. My son made his choice. Let’s just get to know his husband. What do you do for work, Killian?”
Now I wish the spotlight wasn’t on me. “I… um… I’m between jobs, actually. Like a Christmas break.” Does it sound better than ‘unemployed’? I don’t know.
Damen smiles at me, as if I’ve done the right thing by revealing the truth instead of pretending I’m someone I’m not. “My husband doesn’t have to have a stable job. I’ll always take care of you while you follow your heart.”
Maybe I’m already too drunk to see reason but when I look into Damen’s hazel eyes, half-concealed by the beautiful long lashes, it’s so easy to believe every single word he says to me is honest. That he’ll keep me, take care of me, that I’ll live a life without hardship, revolving only around making my husband happy while I go to concerts, shop, and (who knows?) maybe I’ll even learn to cook.
Karl’s scoff ruins the whiskey-laden fantasy. “Follow your heart. That’s for losers, not men like us.” He turns his wrath on Damen who ignores him in favor of stroking my arm. “The Van der Horns have duties, not just flights of fancy. Me and your mother married because we were a good match that benefitted the family!”
The wide space between them is jarring after he says that, and my Damen picks up on it immediately. “And now you’re the picture of marital bliss.”
I can’t help it, I burst out with laughter, which earns me a glare from Titus.
Juliana exhales and rests her elbow on the table. “Karl, please. Would you stop—”
“I will not! What’s happening at this table is an outrage! The evisceration of every Van der Horn tradition, and I will not stand for it! And this little shit will be lecturing me that you have to follow your heart?”
That’s it. I stand so abruptly my chair drops behind me. “You won’t stand for what? That your son is loved? Because you would rather he spent his life miserable with some woman he hates? Is where he puts his dick really that important? Kinda weird if you ask me.” I finish my drink in one big swig.
Titus opens his arms, blinking, as if something inside him is signalling for help. “This is not about you being a man! Father’s lawyer is gay, and they’ve been working together for years!”
I roll my eyes and do jazz hands. “Ooooh! Wow! So progressive! But his son can’t take part in some stupid Christmas hunt because of an ancient tradition of a man needing to be married to shoot a gun or some shit? Fuck that!”
Did I just say that to Damen’s dad?
Yeah. I think I did.
Chapter 9
Damen
I didn’t think I could be more attracted to Killian, but watching him stand up to my father to defend me is an unexpected treat. The truth is I don’t need anyone’s protection, but Kill’s gesture is appreciated.
He stands out starkly in the room decorated at the height of the Gilded Age. All leather, ripped denim, and spikes, he’s the opposite of everything I’ve been taught to embrace. No wonder Father despises him. His presence is confusing and disruptive—a breath of fresh air in the staleness of the old mansion.