Chapter Nine-Secrets

I knock on Ana's front door and Ray answers.

He smirks at me. "If you're looking for her, she's not here."

"Where is she then?"

"Hell if I know. Your sister came over a couple hours ago and practically kidnapped her." He chuckles and looks down at me. "Is there something you wanted? I can give her the message when she comes back—if she comes back."

"Uh, no, that's okay. It's something I need to talk to only her about. I'll come back later," I say. I turn around intending to go back home, but he stops me.

"How about you come in, son. I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Um, okay," I mutter, inwardly groaning. I can already guess what he wants to talk to me about.

He guides me inside and leads me to his living room. Ray's house isn't as large as my parent's house, but it's still pretty spectacular inside. I would think that's due to Ana. She keeps things simple, yet it's the simple things that are most beautiful. Like her.

We sit down across from each other in his suede loveseats, and he pours both of us a glass of brandy. Handing a glass to me, he asks, "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

I think about it for a moment. I hadn't really given tomorrow that much thought, but now when I picture myself standing in front of close friends and family giving my vows to Ana, yet knowing I don't mean a word of what I would be promising, does make me a little nervous.

I glance at him and nod my head. "Just a bit," I say.

He chuckles. "Yeah, I was nervous the day of my wedding, and I remember how nervous your father was." He stops and shakes his head at the memory, then sighs wistfully. "It's natural to feel nervous. And your nervousness just proves how important tomorrow will be."

I nod my head. "I'm more worried about messing up the vows," I joke.

He laughs. "I remember when I was at your fathers wedding, he was so nervous yet so excited to marry your mother, he got tongue-tied multiple times." He laughs again. "It was a delight to see, how much he loves you mother." He gazes at me, and then smiles. "The same look I see on your fathers face when he looks at Gracie is the same look I've seen on your face each time you look at my Annie. I'm still trying to get used to the idea of you two being together, but it gets easier each time I think about who she's getting married to. I couldn't have chosen anyone better for her."

He suddenly stands up and holds out his hand. I stand up too and place my hand is his. We shake and he pulls me into a brief hug.

"Welcome to the family, Christian."

I clear my throat as I feel my emotions and guilt take over my body for the second time today. He pulls back and grins at me.

"Thank you, Ray. I promise I'll look after your baby girl."

He laughs and grips my shoulder. "I know you will, only because I know my Annie will make sure you do."

That brings a smile to my face. Ana can be an aggressive, formidable woman when she really wants to, and it's best to just stay out of her way when or cave and give her what she wants when she's on one of her tirades.

I chuckle. "Yes, I'm certain she will." I smile at him and then look at my wrist watch, noting the time. "Well, I would love to stay and chat some more, but I have to settle a few more things before tomorrow. If Ana comes back you'll tell her I need to speak with her?"

He nods. "Sure will. Now go enjoy your night as a bachelor for the last time," he says as he leads me to the door.

He winks at me as I say my last good byes and thank him again, and then walk back towards my house. When I walk through my door I see people rushing around, trying to get things in order for tomorrow, while I hear my mother and Mia giving people strict orders of what goes where and who does what. I don't want to be around any of the chaos, so I grab a bottle of Jack Daniels and go to my room.

I'm drinking from the bottle as I lay lazily on my bed, thinking about how my life is about to change. Whether it's for the good or worse, I'm still debating.

I think about the house that Ana and I will move into when we get back from our honeymoon. Then I think about what will be our honeymoon. People do nothing but fuck on their honeymoons; I have no idea what Ana and I will be doing. Earlier during the week Ana and I checked out the place that Gramps suggested and Ana and I immediately agreed that it was the perfect place. We booked a week-long stay in the cabins at the Metolius River Resort in Camp Sherman, Oregon. The cabins are nestled in the trees along a narrow river, and the cabins are small and cozy and romantic. I think Ana fell in love with the place the minute she saw it. I just want to give Ana what she wants considering what she's giving up for me, plus I think it's in my best interest to keep her happy. I've seen her upset and it's not a pretty sight.

My thoughts come to a halt when Elliot barges into my room. He stand at the threshold and gazes at me with a bewildered look.

"Bro, what are you doing laying in bed? I know this may not be a real wedding, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun before you give up your title of bachelor."

I groan. "I don't want to go out. I just want to go to sleep, get tomorrow over with and then put all of this behind me."

He frowns and steps further into my room. "What's wrong? You look like someone just told you your puppy died."

I sit up, sighing as I run my hand through my hair. "I don't think I can do this," I tell him.

His frown deepens. "Do what?"

"This. The marriage, the lies. I'm lying to everyone, Elliot. I'm lying to Gramps and Ray, and they've been so generous and seem so happy . . . I can't stand the thought of them finding out what's really going on. They'd be devastated. I can't do that to them." I shake my head and take another swig from my bottle.

He sighs and sits at the end of my bed. He doesn't say anything for a moment. "If you don't want to do it then don't."

I gaze at him. "What?"

"If you don't want to go through with this tomorrow then don't," he repeats.

"But then what would I tell everyone? That I just changed my mind? I don't want to get married anymore? That'll just cause more problems than what there already are." That and how would I get my company started?

He shrugs. "Then don't tell them and go through with the wedding. It's simple, bro. Either you want to do this or you don't. If you want to do it, then do it. If you don't ,then don't. You're not always going to make everyone in your life happy, so why not just focus on making yourself happy." He stares at me for a moment. "Will marrying Ana tomorrow make you happy?"

"Yes," I answer immediately, startling myself. Whether I'll be happy because I'll be getting money from this marriage, or if I'll be happy because I'll be marrying Ana is a thought I don't want to dwell on at the moment.

He grins at me. "Well then there you go. You have your answer." He stands up and pulls the bottle from my hand. "Now come on and get up, I'm taking you out to celebrate your last night as a single man."

I roll my eyes but do as he asks, thinking that a night out with my brother will be good for me.

Six hours later, Elliot helps me out of the cab we had to take home because we're both too sotted to drive. I can't stop laughing as we lean on each other walking up to the front door. Elliot can't get his keys into the lock, mainly because he can't focus and we're both laughing so hard at only God knows what that we're shaking and stumbling over each other.

We both pitch forward when Gramps opens up the door and looks at us with amusement.

"Jesus, Elliot, I told you to take him out for only a few drinks. I bet you two drunks drank whatever bar you went to out of business."

I laugh again, only because I can't stand on my feet steady enough to look him in the eye, and all I see are his pajamas with cartoon cigars on them.

I snicker. "Gra . . . amps, I-I din't know you liked cig-cigers."

Elliot laughs next to me and ends up falling over into the bushes. I look at him like I have no idea how the hell he got down there then look at Gramps.

"Lelliot went down." I laugh and then turn away and walk back down the driveway, tripping over my feet.

I hear Elliot call out for me. "Christin! Don't . . . don't leaf me!"

I throw my head back in laughter but ignore him as I continue on to my destination. I have a very strong urge to see Ana.

I hear someone else call out to me. "Christian, boy, where are you going?"

I turn around in time to see Gramps helping Elliot out of the bushes.

I cup my hands around my mouth and yell. "Ana. I going to see An-na."

"Wait, Christian. Don't go over there," I hear him say, but I continue to walk across our yard until I'm standing in Ana's back yard. I pick up a few pebbles and try to throw them at her balcony doors. I miss the first five times but the sixth time I think I throw it too hard that I cracked the glass. A minute later, I see the curtains move and Ana's face appears through the glass. She frowns down at me and then opens the door.

I grin when I see her loose hair around her shoulders and a silk robe clinging to her body.

"Ana!" I scream.

She cringes and then closes the door in a rush behind her then turns back around to look at me. She puts her finger to her lips and shushes me.

"Jeez, be quiet, Christian! Kate and Mia are over here and they don't want me to see you," she tells me. "What do you want?" she asks.

"I'm . . . I need to till you s-someting," I call up to her, trying to keep my voice low but failing.

She frowns at me. "Are you drunk?"

I nod my head. "Drunk for you."

"What?"

"Come down . . . come to the ground. I half to t-tell you someting," I repeat.

I hear her groan. "Jesus. Stay there, Christian, I'll be down in a moment."

She turns around and disappears into her room. I sway on my feet as the wind gently blows, and what feels like only seconds later, I see Ana walking towards me.

I grin when I see her and hold out my arms. She pushes them back down to my sides when she comes to stand in front of me.

"An-na," I say, enunciating her name.

She sighs and nods her head. "Yes, my name is Ana, and yours is Christian, now tell me what you want."

I take unsteady steps towards her until I have her wrapped in my arms. I feel her struggle out of my grasp, but she stops wiggling when she realizes I'm not letting her go.

I moan as I bury my nose in her hair and sniff loudly. "You smell so oh good," I mutter into her hair.

I feel her slightly shake against me as she giggles.

"Thank you. Is that what you wanted to tell me?" she asks.

I shake my head. "Uh uh." I pull back, but keep my hands on her shoulders. I gaze down at her with a smile. She just stares up at me expectantly. "You're beautiful," I tell her. Her face lights up in surprise, and then a slight blush steals her cheeks. I laugh. "I love your blush." I rub my finger down the side of her face and lean close to her ear. "Can I tell you a sea . . . secret?"

She giggles again. I smile. "Okay," she says.

I lean real close to her ear, push her hair out of the way after I take a few strands into my fist and put it under my nose. I inhale deeply and close my eyes as I breathe in the wonderful scent of her hair, then I exhale through my mouth, my breath blows against her face. She's looking at me out of the corner of her eye, a weird expression on her face and amusement in her eyes.

Putting my mouth close against her ear I whisper loudly, "I'm falling in love with you."

She stiffens in my arms and looks up at me in astonishment. "What?" she breathes.

I dig in my pocket and pull out the rings Gramps gave me and place them in her hand.

I laugh when I look up at her and then last thing I remember is hearing her call my name as I completely pass out.

This is halfway over. I'll try to update at least every other day, unless I can't.

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SS&G xoxo

emi17-Grandpa Grey (Papa) is the one who has the trust fund. Grandpa Trevelyan (Gramps) is the one who gave him the rings and house. I hope that clears up any confusion.