Mated To An Enemy

“No, Myka, I think it’s a pretty uninteresting question, actually,” Peter sighed.

“I think it’s fascinating,” Myka said. “I think it’s a wonderful topic that should definitely be discussed.”

Peter sighed and shook his head.

Caleb looked back and forth between the two men.

“I’m sorry… I’m confused… is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ the marriage?” he asked.

Peter turned to Caleb.

“I have no reason to marry this idiot,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“Peter… that’s not fair,” Myka pouted. “You know you love me just as much as I love you!”

Myka pulled Peter close, whispering in his ear and kissing his cheek. Peter pushed him away.

“Idiot!” Peter growled.

Corrine cleared her throat.

“I think I will step out for some fresh air…” Corrine said, standing from the table.

“I’ll join you,” Fiona said quickly.

Both women stood from the table and walked toward the patio at the other end of the room. Without a word, Landon also got up and followed.

Clara and Nessa quietly began their own conversation while Bell, Galen, and Axel stepped out to check on the children.

“Uh… I feel like I hit a sore subject?” Caleb questioned, watching as the room seemed to be clearing out.

Alice moved down the table a few seats to sit beside Ashleigh.

“Myka has desperately tried to convince Peter to marry him many times over the past five years,” she said. “But something always happens that either interrupts or irritates Peter enough to refuse.”

“Because he’s an idiot,” Peter grumbled as he dropped into the chair beside Alice.

Alice smiled and shrugged.

Caleb turned to look at Peter. He glanced back to where Myka was still pouting a few seats down. Then he leaned on the table toward Peter.

“Really?” he asked quietly. “Come on, you’ve never wanted to marry Myka? Not once?”

Peter took a deep breath and looked back at Caleb.

“I never said I didn’t,” he replied quietly. “But when most of Myka’s proposals end in arguments, injuries, or being trapped in a room for three days— don’t ask— it seems like a good sign that it’s not meant to be.”

“Well… then why haven’t you asked?” Caleb asked.

The sound of clapping drew Caleb’s attention back over his shoulder, where Myka stood smiling as he nodded and clapped his hands together.

“Caleb, you really know the best questions to ask,” Myka chirped as he sat beside Caleb.

Peter took a deep, irritated breath.

“You know that’s probably not the best way to get him to agree,” Caleb commented to Myka.

“I’ve tried everything,” Myka sighed. “I don’t know any way to get him to agree. But I’m the only willing to try, so—”

“Actually,” Peter interrupted with a voice of annoyance. “I did try, once.”

Myka’s brow furrowed, and he quickly turned to look at Peter with dumbfounded confusion.

“About three years ago, after two disastrous attempts on Myka’s part. I decided to gather my courage and put aside my reservations,” Peter stated. “I decided that I would be the one to ask Myka to marry me.”

Myka stood up from the table so fast that the chair fell back on the ground.

“What?!” he shouted.

“I made a plan,” Peter continued, ignoring Myka’s outburst, “All his favorite foods, romantic atmosphere, music, and a very well-rehearsed speech.”

“Well, what the hell happened?” Myka demanded. “Because I never got that invitation!”

Peter clenched his jaw and took another deep breath, letting it back out slowly through his nose.

“I did all of this, had everything arranged. The kids were at sleepovers, candles were lit, and the room was decorated. I laid the meal out on the table, and all that was left was to wait for Myka to come home.”

Myka stood behind Caleb, listening to every word that Peter said. He didn’t understand any of it. His chest felt tight with frustration and confusion.

“I waited, and waited, and waited,” Peter continued. “The candles melted into puddles, the food went bad, and eventually... the sun came up… and I still waited.”

Myka stepped toward Peter.

“I don’t understand…” he whispered.

“I was concerned, then I was worried… but eventually I found out he was okay… so I just cleaned up the mess and pretended it never happened.”

Myka rushed over to Peter. He shook his head and grabbed Peter’s hands.

“I don’t understand, I don’t remember… when was…?”

Myka suddenly stopped. His eyes widened, and he stood up, turning toward Alice with an irritated growl.

“This is your fault!” he shouted.

Peter got up and pulled Myka back.

“Stop being rude!” he shouted, shoving Myka into another chair.

Myka turned Peter’s chair to face him and grabbed both his hands.

“I didn’t know,” he said sweetly, “Peter, I had no idea! I never would have gone if I had known!”

Peter rolled his eyes and turned away.

“Is that why you were so mad? I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! Please, Peter, I didn’t know!” Myka pouted.

“Three years ago?” Alice asked, then nodded. “I see…”

Myka looked past Peter and gave Alice a mean look. She covered her mouth, trying not to giggle.

“Stop acting like a child!” Peter scolded Myka. “It’s not Alice’s fault! She isn’t the one who didn’t call me and tell me where she was going. She’s also not the one that turned off her phone, so I couldn’t reach her!”

“But… I didn’t know…” Myka whimpered.

Caleb leaned closer to Ashleigh and Alice.

“Care to explain?” he asked.

“I believe Peter’s planned proposal was the same night that Axel and I brought Myka to be our witness,” Alice replied.

“Was it a last-minute decision?” Ashleigh asked.

Alice smiled and shook her head.

“Myka knew the plan for a week… he just forgot to tell Peter until the day after we left…”

Myka growled toward Alice again.

Peter cleared his throat and turned back toward Caleb with a smile.

“Anyway, we have both tried and failed,” he said.

“Peter…” Myka whined, leaning close and touching his forehead to Peter’s shoulder. “I didn’t know…”

“But it doesn’t really matter, does it?” Peter asked.

Myka pulled back and looked at his lover with a sad expression.

Peter smiled and pressed his forehead to Myka’s tenderly.

“I’m still putting up with you anyway,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Myka grinned and turned his head, capturing Peter’s lips for a quick stolen kiss before Peter shoved him away.

“Idiot…” Peter sighed as Myka giggled and nuzzled against his shoulder.

Alice smiled and leaned toward Ashleigh.

“Peter loves Myka more than Myka will ever understand,” she whispered.

Ashleigh looked up at the two men sitting a few chairs down from her. Myka still tried to be affectionate, while Peter rejected and pushed him away. But she caught a glimpse of a slight smile on Peter’s lips as he did so.

“He’ll never marry him, though,” Alice whispered.

Ashleigh furrowed her brows and looked at her sister-in-law.

“Why?” she asked.

“He seems to honestly believe it would be unlucky for them to marry at this point,” Alice sighed.

Ashleigh reached out and grabbed her water, glancing again at Peter.

“Besides,” Alice continued as Ashleigh took a drink, “he enjoys torturing his little idiot too much to let the fun end now.”

Ashleigh smiled, taking another sip of her water.

“Who needs whips and chains when the right words can make his lover cry out so easily?” Alice whispered.

Alice stepped away with a mischievous grin as all eyes turned to Ashleigh, who sputtered and choked on her water from trying and failing to suppress her laughter.