┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓ Groom ┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛ Chapter 4: Groom (Rhys' POV) "You're marrying my sister! How does that happen, what the hell?" Ashton asked while we walked around the backyard after lunch had ended. "It's complicated," I mumbled, still not over the fact that Brooke actually agreed. God, why would she agree? I really thought she wouldn't agree, that's why I thought about it and said all right. "Your parents and my parents spoke, your parents really want Brooke to get married and my parents really want me to get married. They want a bride they already know, a bride people like." "And that's Brooke? Are you crazy? Brooke is-" "There's nothing wrong with Brooke, you know," I cut him off. "You need to stop talking about her like that. Even your mom. Why do you guys look at her like she's crazy?" "She's going crazy after her break up. You don't know anything." "Tell me then," I mumbled, stopping by the pond, looking down at the water where goldfish were swimming and flowers, mainly lotuses, were floating. "She had a boyfriend of two years, okay? Our parents didn't really like him. I liked him, Ava liked him, but our parents didn't. He left Kilthorne a few weeks ago. He asked Brooke to move with him, which made sense if you look at how serious their relationship had gotten. But my parents didn't let her. So they were forced to break up. Brooke has been spiraling ever since, okay? She started smoking, she sneaks out, and doesn't come back until the morning. God knows where she goes and who she goes with. She's actually sobering down a bit now." I stared at the fish, my hands in my pocket. "So, your parents only want her to get married so that she can't be with that guy, huh?" "Yes, exactly." "Then why did she agree?" I looked at him. "Why the hell would she want to marry me if she's in love with someone else?" "Because she can't be with the guy she's in love with. It's forbidden, Rhys." I blinked, staring at the water again. Forbidden. "What do you think about that?" I questioned. "Their relationship being forbidden?" "I think it's utter bullshit. He's a great guy, especially for Brooke. And even if he isn't, who the hell is anybody to tell them they can't be together? I don't understand all the complications. If a guy and girl love each other, they should be allowed to be together." I wish someone would have said that a few years ago. I wish I knew that a few years ago. I wish I would have fought a little harder for her. "Do you really want a miserable marriage where your wife loves someone else and you love someone else?" I turned to look at him so fast, I thought my neck snapped. "What?" "Brooke loves Griffin. You may not love someone now, but what if you fall in love with another girl later down the line? You'll both be miserable in this marriage." I let out a small breath of relief. I thought he knew. I thought Ava told him. "I don't have much of a choice, Ashton. I have to marry somebody. It has to be one of your sisters. It's a demand from my parents." "Then marry Ava." I shook my head, clicking my tongue. "She's younger than me." "Only by three years. And you two used to get along." "Have you seen us now?" He sighed, scratching his brow. "You and Ava just seem like a better match." "We were a long time ago. But not anymore." "What the hell happened with you two?" I made a mistake. "Nothing." I faced him. "We changed. People change." "Not for no reason," he replied pointedly. "Ashton." We looked over where Ava stood. "They're calling you both inside." She looked between us, her eyes lingering on mine before she turned around and walked back inside. We followed a minute later. We made it into the living area and found everybody seated, still discussing wedding preparations. "Rhys. We're going to get her engagement dress tomorrow. So why don't you go with Ashton and finalize a tux or suit, hmm?" Mom asked. I nodded. "Okay." "Can you believe it? He'll finally be a groom," Dad sighed, looking at me. He turned to Brooke. "Why don't you chat a little? Talk about the engagement." "Make sure your outfits complement each other," Mrs. Pearl suggested. Brooke stood up and walked over to me. "Let's go." I stared down at her, my eyes shifting to Ava's who sat right in my line of vision, behind Brooke. She wasn't even looking, she was just staring off into space. I moved out of the way and let Brooke lead the way. She headed to the foyer and we just walked around within the palace. "Why the hell are you marrying me?" she asked. "It's not really by choice. They want me to marry one of you." "Why not Ava?" Why does everybody ask me that same fucking question? "She's younger than me. Age-wise, we're a better match." "Age-wise?" She laughed humorlessly. "Does age matter more than compatibility? We'll kill each other, Rhys. I hate you." "I hate you too. But I can't marry Ava." She sighed, "Tough." "What?" "Nothing. What are you wearing for the engagement?" "Why are you marrying me when you're in love with someone else?" I questioned. We both stopped walking as she turned to me. "Ashton told you?" I nodded. "Apparently, even at twenty-three years old, I don't get to choose who I love," she shrugged. "They won't allow it." I knew that situation all too well. "So you'll be the groom, I'll be the bride. For now. But what happens later? When they want an heir. When I have to play picture-perfect wife in public. We both know I can't play that part." "We'll see." She rolled her eyes and we resumed strolling. "You don't seem all that heartbroken, you know," I said, watching her with my suspicion. "Do you think I would show it if I was?" She lifted a brow at me. "Probably not," I mumbled, nodding in agreement. "Can I ask you something?" she questioned. "No." "Well, I will anyway." "Great." "What is your deal with Ava?" "What do you mean?" "I mean, why the hell are you so mean to her? You weren't this mean to her until just a few years ago. Did something happen?" "What could possibly happen? I've always hated her. I just always used to act like I didn't. Then I got sick of it." "Because you were crowned?" I rolled my eyes, looking at her. "Because she gets on my nerves." "Then stop bothering her. You're the one who's always looking for things to do or say to her. You even showed up at her work once." "That was a coincidence. I was there on a visit to elementary schools." "Sure, okay. Just… stop being so mean to her. You were friends, at least think about how hurt she feels." "Why? Does she say it hurts? The way I act?" "No." Her eyes narrowed. "But you should know, even if she feels that way, she wouldn't tell anyone. At least my emotions show on my face. Hers don't. When she's hurt, she just gets quiet and distant. That's worse than me." Once upon a time, I knew it with one look when she was upset and I knew exactly what to do to fix that. Now, I can't fix it even if I wanted to. "You know, Brooke, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I have no interest in your sister. And I couldn't care less about her. Whether she's hurt or happy, when she laughs or cries, I really don't give a fuck." She stared at me before laughing softly. "You seemed to give plenty of fucks last night when she danced with Liam Andrews." I glared at her but there was no stopping her now. "You drank glass after glass of whiskey, you shot daggers at them with your eyes the whole time. I thought you were going to walk up there and steal her away from him," she teased. "Why didn't you?" "Because I don't care," I scoffed. "She can dance with anybody she wants." Brooke shrugged nonchalantly. "If you say so. I'm just making sure my future husband doesn't have a thing for my little sister." "I don't have a thing for either of you sisters, okay?" She watched me with amusement but dropped the subject. "What color are you thinking of wearing for the engagement party? Actually, I'll pick a dress and you should just pick a matching tie. Fine?" "Fine," I huffed and we headed back to the living area. She sat beside Ava, I sat in the solo chair that was free and everybody continued talking. Our mothers mostly talked about the wedding and engagement, and Mr. Roman and Dad got busy talking about work and the kingdom. "Oh, Rhys, good thing I remembered," Dad said suddenly, catching everyone's attention. "Remembered what?" I asked. "Your school visits are due for this month. Why don't you go tomorrow, hmm?" Brooke snickered quietly and I ignored her. "All right. I'll go tomorrow," I nodded. School visits. That means meeting Ava at the dance studio too. Just fantastic. . . . . . Chapter 5